Replacing front indicator bulb. How?

Last week my dash indicator signal flashed double quick, a quick look & the throttle side front bulb is out. I cannot find info on the forum on how to replace it so I followed headlight bulb info........

With the front panel removed I can see the rear of the bulb housing. I've got small hands so can reach in, the headlight bulbs are accessible but I've short fingers, I can't get any leverage on the turn unit, even if I could I wouldn't be able to get it back in. Am I missing something?

Not really, if you've got the front windscreen garnish off. Just reach in and turn the bulb socket anti-clockwise to remove it. It is a confined space but you get quite adept at it once you've poked around in there a couple of times. It doesn’t help either that the heat in there makes the dust covers a bit sticky when changing headlight bulbs. So a spray of rubber and plastic lubricant when you're in there makes things easier next time you want to replace or upgrade a bulb.

Aw, ya missed it Meldrew. The guy wants to replace a front turn signal bulb. Which is a bigger PITA than the headlight bulb.

Sorry, I’m too ham fisted to have attempted a turn signal bulb in situ. When the time comes I’ll just remove the front fairing (“front cover” in Honda speak) and change them to LED’s and do the turn signal flasher upgrade.

Now hopefully someone who’s actually replaced a turn signal bulb will chime in with some advise for MarkF.

Well never having to change one myself, I blew the dust off my FSM and referred to that. If you want PITA don't mess with those 5w pilot bulbs unless absolutely necessary, because they'll be squeezed off their connector and drop down into the headlight reflector.

All is not lost though as you gain great manual dexterity skills disconnecting the headlight bulb dust cover, connector, and headlight bulb to to retrieve these pesky bulbs with numerous attempts with a flexible grab. Which of course you'll have to purchase unless you already have one.

It's all good experience though and well worth the scratches on the back of your hand.

Cosmic_Jumper wrote:

Aw, ya missed it Meldrew. The guy wants to replace a front turn signal bulb. Which is a bigger PITA than the headlight bulb.

Sorry, I’m too ham fisted to have attempted a turn signal bulb in situ. When the time comes I’ll just remove the front fairing (“front cover” in Honda speak) and change them to LED’s and do the turn signal flasher upgrade.

Now hopefully someone who’s actually replaced a turn signal bulb will chime in with some advise for MarkF.

Thanks, yes like I said...........I can reach in but only just touch the bulb holder, not get any grip on it. Maybe I'll have to look at fairing removal or look at the neighbours kids for a potential bulb removal candidate.

Can't believe that the front has to come off to change a turn bulb. There has to be a way, I can't be the only one who's had turn bulb fail.

The fairing had to come off, to replace a bulb..............I ran out of neighbours kids in the end and gave up.

Hmmm it's gone pop again............tbh this bulb business is having a dispropotionate affect on my feelings towards this bike. This time I've taken more interest, the new bulb is fine, the socket super clean. After reading a few old posts, I've taken apart the handlebar switch assembly and cleaned it thoroughly with contact cleaner. Still no go, it can't be the relay as the other three bulbs function and I'd have thought a wire issue would likely have produced an intermittent fault before failure?

Ideas?

shop manual might help

It doesn't. I had a look through the FSM recently before I sold it and it's just basic info. Access to the front indicator bulbs really is difficult and restricted, and it must be very annoying and frustrating for MarkF.

What is the the front and rear indicator socket type? 3157? I want to change to brighter leds. Suggested brand and part number?

Paging Dr Google...

https://www.lightbulbs.com/automotive/2013-honda-fsc600a-silver-wing-abs-replacement-light-bulbs

Hi AGWING,

Front & Back indicator bulbs are R581 12v 21w ambers. (off set location pins, only fit one way)
eBay's your friend for variety on LED's
Hope this helps.

Be safe, be seen!

I’ve done this (changed to LEDs)- you are stuck with the amber LEDs (and I’m so used to them as the running lights as well as indicators that it’s no big deal- they can’t be white or switchbacks as you would have to amend the electrics of the bike and I don’t have the know how for that). The BEST way to do this is to take the ‘front cover’ AKA fairing off the bike- yup, more work of course, but really not that tough and this way, you don’t break plastics. I was able to switch out my front cover a couple of years ago since my SWing was dropped in the garage of the prior owner, so before I installed it, I did the indicator bulbs and switched all the clips over from the old fairing.

This video is pretty helpful:

https://youtu.be/19u2exF8Kj4?si=N9RCEWtm5jWqQP54

Once I started working on this bike, it’s really not that difficult.