Headlight Bulb Housing

[L'Escargot]

Hi,Anyone had problems with the little spring thing that holds the Headlight Buld in its housing ?
Went to put a new bulb in today and on opening the spring it fell off ! When I put the new bulb in,the spring wouldnt stay in place on the right hand side (the place where its supposed to 'swing out' from.On closer inspection I noticed a tiny piece of plastic,of which there are two,had broken off !
This is the first time I've replaced a Bulb so it must have been broken in the first place (bike is new,2009 )
Dealer stated its not the first time this has happened and one has to get a new headlight housing,how much ? £253.00 + VAT !!!!
Hopefully I'll get it sorted under warranty but was wondering if theres a cheap and easy fix that you wonderful Tossers have found over the years ??
Friggin hell its never ending init !!

 

[RickG]

Yeah, they are a crappy design. Mine broke too.

Easy fix is if you can get hold of a thin brass washer with a hole about the same size as the self tapping scew that holds the spring in place. Ideally the outer diameter should be about 8-10mm from memory. All you need to do is bend the washer at right angles about 1/3 of the way from the edge (in other words NOT so the bend passes through the hole) You can than locate the spring in place with the bent bit pointing downwards so it semi-clamps the rear of the spring.

Works a treat and is bulletproof

 

[BeemerBaz]

Had the whole unit replaced under warranty