How do you get rid of that Yellow Tint on Headlights

leboof

Hi, thanks for looking and thank you for any replies....

I've just bought a new bike and didn't notice until it was dark that the headlights have a yellow tint to them. I remember years ago that this was a bit of a fad to look cool or when you were driving abroad. If I remember correctly, you could by a small bottle of tint and you simply painted it on to your headlights like nail vanish.

So, how do you get it off? As a set of lights can set you back £200 for this bike, I'm hoping someone can give me the definitave answer rather than say "Try such and such" or "such and such might work".

Cheers guys.

KeithP

Is it a yellow tinted bulb or the front glass that's tinted?

I guess its the bulb... if so, the definitive answer is...

buy a new untinted bulb.

goldspanners

or if it is a painted lens then some paint thinners should remove it.

but i would make a guess at it being the bulb.

scbk

I thought the idea with the yellow tint was so you could see further at night?

vaio

and if the tint is on the glass make sure it is glass not plastic before using thinners. If it's plastic try a test patch first

leboof

KeithP wrote: »

Is it a yellow tinted bulb or the front glass that's tinted?
I guess its the bulb... if so, the definitive answer is...

Not mate, it's something on the headlight, the bulbs are white....

Thank you for the reply.

laurel7172

When I was a child, everybody had little bottles of yellow lacquer before they headed off to France for the summer holidays-and their dad took it off with mum's nail varnish remover when they got home. Not sure an 80's Volvo is directly comparable to your bike, though.

KeithP

leboof wrote: »

Not mate, it's something on the headlight, the bulbs are white....

Thank you for the reply.

What I cannot understand is...

How on earth did you not see this yellow tint when you inspected the bike?

I assumed it was a tinted bulb because I felt sure that anyone would have noticed a yellow tinted lens earlier.

But ho hum.

leboof

KeithP wrote: »

I assumed it was a tinted bulb because I felt sure that anyone would have noticed a yellow tinted lens earlier.

Think you're probably right. I guess if I take one of the bubs out and shine a touch through the lens, it may give me the answer.

Thanks for the reply.

Premier_2

You need to find out what is causing the yellow tint.

If its something painted on a glass lens cover, I'm sure you'd be able to see it.
You could possibly remove this using thinners as mentioned, or possibly using some wire wool very gently.
Don't do this if its plastic!!!

However, based on the price, I suspect it may well be a modern plastic headlamp. It could be that the lens cover has degraded, especially if someone has not fitted an anti-UV bulb. This degraded lens might give you a yellowish tint to the headlamp.
Unfortunately, if this is the cause, then only a new headlamp (and anti-UV bulb!) will correct it.

leboof

Solved... took the bulbs out and they had a slight tint on the upper half! Strange. Simply fitted new white ones.

Thank you everyone, appreciate it.