Hi Everybody:
I just bought a 2004 Ds650 Baja X.
One head light bulb is burned out and I have never seen such a bunch of crap to change a light bulb. I finally pulled out the left bulb with a pair of 90 degree needle nose plyers after the light socket was removed.

I could not beleive when I turned out the light socket the bulb was still sitting in the housing, and it would not come out without plyers!

I thought like most light bulbs it might of came undon from the socket but that was not the case either. What is up with all the BS on simply changing a front light bulb on these things? It looks like I will have to take off the light assemby to put the bulb in than install the socket so I can reach it.

Also the lower driving lights dont work either? How do you change the bulbs in those? It appears you pry off the glass lense but I want to make sure that is correct. (HELP ME PLEASE) Anybody

I'm new to this web-site and I look forward to talking to fellow Ds owners. The Best sport quad ever made in my opinion.
Garman351

 

I also have an 04, but have yet to change out the main headlight bulbs, so I can't help you there. I also have an 03, and changing the bulb (the headlight set-up changed for 04, though) was pretty simple. In that case, it is a single bulb that you pull out from the inside.

Regarding the lower lights, they are difficult to change because the housing is riveted, rather than bolted, together. This makes things a major PITA, but it can be done. You don't remove the glass covers to do it, though. I have found that the easiest way to change these is to remove the entire lower light housing (you will probably have to remove the upper shock bolt to get a socket on the nut though). The bulbs come out from the back (they are H4 bulbs, which are a common automotive bulb). I replace with PIAA bulbs. On mine, I ended up drilling out the rivets, and replacing with little bolts with nuts instead, which makes it easier to change to bulbs without removing the housing. It is also possible that it is not your bulbs that are bad, but instead the switch.

 

Nice first post...

To change the main head light bulbs on an 04 remove the front plastic and headlamp assembly. Its just a few bolts and not a big deal if you have any bit of mechanical know how. Once the headligt housing is removed you can access the bulbs from the back of the housing.

THe lower baja lights are not hard to change either. You do NOT have to remove the entire lower light housing. Leave the aluminum cover in place and just wedge a phillips head screw driver in from each side to remove the screws holding the glass. Once out you access the bulb from the back just like the main light housing. Do not try to pry off the glass

Main bulbs are H6-M (not common - motorycle only application)
Lower baja bulbs are H3

Good luck, grab a beer and don't get so bent out of shape over changing a bulb....

 

Hi There Jusrlax:

I really had to laugh when I read your little ditty on the bottom of your reply back to me.

Or as I like to say a guy with a big fat A-- likes to haul A-- in class! I'm a bigger guy my self and the Ds was a clear choice for my self, it has lots of room compared to the smaller sport quads that feels like putting on underwear to sizes to small, "you can do it but your not comfortable."

(Any Way) The light thing is just so stupid to deal with. I will have to take the head light right off so I can change the bulb it's the one you can hardly reach while it's on the quad.

How many miles to a tank of gas do you get running your Ds average driving with several hard hits to the thumb gas lever? I took it out on Saturday for the first time in Baldwin Mich. And twenty miles later I had to go back to the trailer my legs were soaked & frozin up to my knees driving in that slushy snowy melting garbage. I'm use to my other quad a Honda Rincon that has full fender protection and running boards to keep you dry. Any hard hits to the gas and the Ds wanted to slide sideways real easy. This thing is a beast and I'm looking forward to dryer ground conditions. Thanks for the tip on the lower lights. I will check to see if they are getting a hot lead when the lights are on that will tell me it's just the bulbs.

Does the extra lights make a big difference running at night?
Do you ever ride your Ds on trails?

I look forward to hearing from all you guys, (Rock-On)

Garman


I have heard the Ds is real hard on light bulbs? My rear brake & tail lights did not work when I first bought the quad, I thought I had a major short causing most of the lights not to work, but I was wrong. It just needed a new rear bulb and its ok.

 

DSengineer:
Is that what you do for a living or just a handle?
Thanks for the very helpful advise. Why? do they have the two top clips on the headlight housing and two below that I first took off that did nothing. I took them off and gently pried the lense from the back black plastic housing and all it did was chip off the plastic, so that did nothing.

Why does the head bulb not go a 1/4 turn into the socket like 90% of all light bulbs do and be locked into place than incerted into the housing. The bulb goes in first with the little ear than the socket has to go in and a 1/4 turn to lock it into place. You guys must be getting tired of this? I know I'am.

I was told to change to a Big Gun over rev box because the limiter shuts down the engine to early, just as it starts to get into it's power band? Is this a good mod? Also some guys are going to hotter coils? My Ds has the Big Gun header and a K&N filter & outers pre filter with the air box lid removed and of course rejetted. What should I do next to make this thing run to it's potential.

Thanks
garman

 

Hey Garman, I am trying to PM back but you have your PM turned off......

 

Get yourself a Big Gun CDI for sure. You will notice a nice power gain and hit the higher rpms that the DS loves.

 

and if you have a stock carb do the OMR STOCK CARB MODS. worth every second it took to do them! notice I didn't say penny? real cheap too. I still havn't put my big gun box on yet, next time I go ridin it WILL be on!! Can't wait to feel the difference!