Headlamp questions?

[stevo as b4]

I made another cock up today, when fitting a new LED sidelight bulb into my KMX headlamp unit. The new bulb a metal cased LED was not as bright as the other LED bulb i had brought to try, so i tried to remove it from the headlamp, but being a very tight fit through the grommet, it broke off and has landed in the front of the headlamp.

1, could this be cause for an MOT fail?

2, How likely is it for a non metal cased LED bulb to melt, bearing in mind it's quite close to the head light bulb?

3, If i have a spare headlight unit, would it be legal or safe to modify it to take a second side light bulb, as it just looks like the back of the lamp has a hole drilled through it into the reflector and grommet to hold the 233 type bulb holder. I'm thinking 2 sidelights could be better than one for a bit of work?

Finally whats the best way to try and remove the Lens from the headlamp to retrieve my broken bulb?

Sorry for all the stupid questions, and yes I've put away my tools now and stepped away from the bike!

[mentalboy]

Remove headlamp from bike, extricate grommet and shake until bulb exits. Most headlamps do not have removable lens and attempting to do so will end in tears.
Shouldn't fail an MOT with it rattling around but it's not really the sort of thing you want in your headlight

Edit: can't you get at it with the main headlamp bulb removed?
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Make mine a Corona.

[Taught2BCauti...]

Lots of ways to get the broken bit out of the headlamp through the main bulb hole - Blue-Tack on the end of some curtain spring, masking tape wrapped around a screwdriver, flexible drinking straw (like that bloke on the Malteesers advert) and suction to grab it, powerful vacuum cleaner, etc.

Problem with most LED replacement bulbs is that they only give off light in a narrow angle forwards, so not much light bouncing off the reflector, which is why they aren't that bright when fitted.

Beware of drilling the reflector too - most of them are front-silvered and the silvering might start to flake off after being drilled.

Is there nowhere you could bolt a couple of 'Angle Eye' LED's? They're quite cheap on eBay and give off a good bright white light, and I don't think the sidelight has to be inside the headlamp for the MOT - mine isn't.
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[stevo as b4]

TBH I've had a total brain fail today, and forgot about removing the headlamp bulb to fish it out!

I think I'll have a play with the spare headlight unit I have. It's a Stanley and I have been told they are a very good light/reflector design and the XR250/400 boys tend to use them as an upgrade for the less effective XR unit.

If I can get 2 of these 21LED bulbs into a light unit it should be very bright without the headlight on at all! I tried out the side light in the garage today with the door shut and it was like a very bright torch lighting up most of the floor and wall. I was pretty impressed for such a small LED bulb, but then it was £7!

[bugeye_bob]

to retrieve I have used a dap of super glue and stick/screwdriver and even my finger to drag it out.