Help! HID lamp behaving badly

[P248]

The previous owner of my 2008 Vee fitted HID lamps. Up until a couple of days ago they've worked very well and I've been very pleased with them. However at the end of a 100 mile trip on two days ago the RH lamp, both main and dip, was not working. However when I turned the ignition on again 20 mins later everything worked OK, until I'd ridden a few miles by which time the RH lamp was again not working. Same thing happened today.
Does anyone have any ideas what the problem could be?
I realise that I will need to reinstate the original light system before the next MOT but until then is like to get the HIDs working properly.

Thanks for any help anyone can offer

[tallpaul]

Sounds like the ballast unit is on the way out. They get hot in use and it sounds like a component is breaking down. Not something I would try to repair, just replace it.

[Gert]

You could swap the two over (left with right). That way you will prove weither the fault follows the bulb or the wiring.

[P248]

Thanks blokes. I swapped over the bulbs yesterday afternoon and took the bike out today. Both lamps failed after about 30 mins, but today feels like the hottest day so far. I’ll let things cool down and see what the situation is this evening. These problems have only appeared over the last couple of weeks in the very hot weather. Previous to that all worked well, and even over the last 2 weeks the lamps have worked fine at night, so I’m beginning to think the temperature has something to do with it.

[bigpie]

With the new MOT, won't aftermarket HIDs fail? I may be misinformed.

[Graham62]

your spot on bigpie  I was told this last week by the mot tester.

[kwackboy]

With the new MOT, won't aftermarket HIDs fail? I may be misinformed.

You're not and Yes .. it will fail on the beam test plus headlights have to be OEM .. I think .

[P248]

I'm planning to remove the HID kits before the MOT and permanently reinstate the lights to OEM set up, but want to keep the HIDs until then.
Anyway, both lights working this morning after overnight cooling so I'm inclined to thinking it is a thermal cut out which is being triggered by the current weather and high temperatures.

[P248]

Update: I’ve managed to remove the HID lighting completely and reinstate the OEM lighting which works! That’s the good news.

The not so good news is that one of the pilot bulbs has dropped out of its holder and fallen into the headlamp unit, and it’s disappeared round the back of the reflector. Do you think it’s OK for me to leave it there & forget about it, and simply install a new bulb?

[hotbulb]

It'll rattle annoyingly, and probably damage the reflector . Short of tipping the whole bike upside-down and shaking it out, can you suck it out via the headlight bulb hole using a bit of rubber hose and a vacuum cleaner?

[kwackboy]

use a magnet on a stick.

[P248]

Both good suggestions,  thank you.  I can't see the bulb, it's completely hidden so I can't get a rubber tube or magnet to it, and the bulb is the type which is completely glass with external filament wires and not the type with a steel base, so a magnet wouldn't work.
I think I'm going to have to leave it and keep an eye on the reflectors.
I guess