Cleaning Headlight Glass Lens?

[cakeman]

Hi, my headlight lens is a bit dirty/yellowed over. I am wondering if there is an easy way to clean the inside of the glass lens without taking the whole headlight off?

Ive looked on the forums and the workshop manual but cant find to much info.

Any info would be great.


Thanks

[DarkStaR]

"IF" the issue is on the inside, you WILL have to take the light off, and apart.

Are you sure it's on the inside?

"IF" your lens is plastic, which I think it is considering the year/model...

I have not heard of yellowing on Monster headlight lens yet, but that's probably because the plastic lens is a fairly new thing.

FYI: There are plastic polishing compounds that can be used for this.  

Google headlight polish for more info, or click HERE.

[NorDog]

Google headlight polish for more info...[/size]

Be careful if you did this google search at work.  No telling what will, ah, pop up.

[WhiteStripe]

you can get a cheap kit at any auto parts store - works great and very very easy.

[cakeman]

So it's not the inside of the lens that needs a clean, just the outside?

[UK_DoubleDuke]

you need to clean the outside.
if still yellow.
it is the inside.
previous posts warn of a plastic lens, and to use a plastic cleaner, if it is a plastic lens.

If this is a glass lens then it is not hard to take apart, clean and refit.

On the older monsters (99)

loosen the headlight bolts, on the side of the light.
on the front, bottom edge, there is a cross head screw showing.
loosen this screw, it holds the headlight surround and headlight, in its shell.

remove the surround and lens, disconnect the lights (H4 headlight bulb connector and side light if fitted)

the lens is held in place by springs (bent wires).
take a photo of the arrangement in the back of the surround, so one you put it back together all the springs are in the same place as before.

remove springs.

clean lens.

refit.

when putting the assembly back in to its shell, the cross head screw has a clip on the rear that
holds it all together.
i found that sometimes this has to be loosened and refitted several times before you get it perfect. No rhyme or reason for this just alignment.

it will all take about 30 minutes.

have fun, enjoy your bike.

[koko64]

Try Windex, but then I have some Greek backround, good for warts, pimples, scratches .