The International CBX Owners Association

My headlight lens is somewhat cloudy and I wondered if there is a way to clean the grime off without scratching the glass? Has anyone had success here?

Ross,
If it's outside 'grime' that won't come off with glass cleaner, it may be road sand-blast. If that's the case, you'll have to find a glass polisher. It may be inside the lens. I've had noticeable success just dis-assembling the headlight (bike other than CBX) and cleaning the inside of the lens with some glass cleaner on microfiber. Clumsy affair because you have to 'fabricate' some sort of thing to move the swab around the inside through the bulb hole.

The headlight unit is the same as on the 1977-1979 GL1000s and you should be able to find a decent replacement , if not a new one.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-Honda-H ... 472wt_1124

I have used the 3M polishing kits to good effect on plastic lenses, making me wonder if they have a system for glass? But as Mike suggests, you may find it faster/easier to just replace it, and I recall vaguely that it wasn't much money when I did.

If it is a bit cloudy on the inside, then like Larry says squirt some Windex into it and swab a lint free cloth through it from the bulb hole. I did that with mine and the lens came out much nicer than it was. If the lens/reflector is trash, buy a new one.

Partzilla has them for $35.00 plus shipping. New.

http://www.partzilla.com/parts/detail/h ... 1-671.html

Steve

Thanks for the tips. Squirted some Windex in and it cleaned up a treat. Who knew the grime was on the "inside"?

ajs350 wrote: Who knew the grime was on the "inside"?

I have that on one of my Ducatis. The low beam side of the headlight is foggy on the inside, the high beam side is still clear. I guess the temperature of the light being on all the time, causes condensation that eventually fogs up the glass....

You'll also find that many of these period headlights had higher wattage bulbs installed at some time. That melts the reflective backing on the inside and ruins the housing. Stick to the standard bulb wattage.

Dave

Same thing happened with my turn signals.
They were significantly brighter after wiping out the "grime".

steve murdoch icoa #5322 wrote:Same thing happened with my turn signals.
They were significantly righter after wiping out the "grime".

Yes, they would be. They are Japanese rights. Evelything is a rittle righter after you crean it up ploperly!