Aftermarket ATC185/200s Headlight

[Frankencelery]

I just bought a new aftermarket headlight assembly for my friend's ATC185s, which I rolled last weekend. When it arrived, my first complaint was that the bucket was all full of holes where there were none in the original. Assuming that it was designed to fit multiple machines, I decided to live with it. Then I noticed that I was going to have to replace 2 of the 3 wiring connectors because they didn't match, but I decided to live with it. Then I pulled the bulb and looked at it and it was 12v/35w/35w instead of the 45w that was in there originally, but I decided to live with it.

So I installed it, started it up, and as soon as I revved up the engine the low beam burned out. Switched to high beam and it too burned out within 5 seconds. Can't live with that!

The vendor wrote a handwriten message in the box saying to make sure my taillight worked, because if it didn't the voltage would be too high. I verified that it did, but I'm thinking there's a problem with the bulb they're using and it is NOT compatible with the 185s. To verify I put my old headlight back on, which still works even though the bucket is toast, and I revved the engine with no problems.

Anyone else experienced this problem? I'd mention the vendor, but they offered me a refund, so I didn't want to beat on them. BTW, the lamps are not compatible, or I would have simply put my old bulb in the new housing.

[TravEX]

Did you get it from Dennis Kirk? Here is a link http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/product_catalog/Product.jsp?skuId=22146&catId=116&leafCatId=11602

[Howdy]

I have sold a few of these aftermarket headlight set ups. About 1/2 the ones I got had a 6volt bulb in it. But I see you already checked the bulb voltage. Maybe they had a mis-labled bulb, and that is why it blew. Replacemt bulbs are $4 or less.
Personally, I would put a tester on the lighting system to see how many volts it has while running ( and reving ). And then go from there.
Howdy

[fhportal]

I just put a replacement headlight just like you describe on my 82 185s... What I did is just use the plastic bucket, swaped my lens/bulb/bulb holder (by removing the metal clips that hold it in) so I wouldn't have to rewire... also allowed me to keep the 45w factory bulb... Now I have to find something to close up all those extra holes...

[Frankencelery]

The one that Dennis Kirk carries looks like exactly the same one I bought. Howdy, I did check the voltage, and it gets to about 16v when revved up, but it doesn't blow the stock bulb. So I checked my buddy's ATC185s, and his does the same thing.

I was tempted to keep the headlight, but the bulb had no part number and I didn't know what to get to replace it. It's not the same bulb as stock. I also didn't like the fact that it was only 35W. My night vision is not all that hot, and I need all the watts I can get! The vendor on Ebay said they would refund my money so I sent it back. Seeing $76 NOS housings without the headlight on Ebay made me wonder if I shouldn't have tried a little harder to make it work.