Headlight Options Part 2

This came in one of the boxes of stuff the other day. Now I can't decide if I should use it or just get a cheap sealed beam unit.



The stock wiring.


Or the H4 plug I have now.

I read a couple things around the web about using the old reflector with a new type bulb. One guy said he just safety wired it in. :shock:

But I never saw any specifics or exactly where to buy some kind of conversion.

Mr. Swoosh, from what I can see, your project is shapin up well. Even in the northwest, you're gonna be ridin before the big rain.

I put a sealed H4 in mine. works good, just watch out for the assholes on the road.

Cheers,

Don

The stock Lucas headlamp is rather poor if you actually expect to see anything at night. I replaced mine with a halogen when the bike was still in warrantee.

Lucas electrics - The Prince of Darkness :lol: :lol: :lol:

The Lucas motto: "Get home before dark."

Lucas denies having invented darkness. But they still claim "sudden, unexpected darkness."

Lucas--inventor of the first intermittent wiper.

Lucas--inventor of the self-dimming headlamp.

The three-position Lucas switch--DIM, FLICKER and OFF. The other three switch settings--SMOKE, SMOLDER and IGNITE.

The original anti-theft devices--Lucas Electric products.

"I've had a Lucas pacemaker for years and have never experienced any prob...

If Lucas made guns, wars would not start either.

Did you hear about the Lucas powered torpedo? It sank.

It's not true that Lucas, in 1947, tried to get Parliament to repeal Ohm's Law. They withdrew their efforts when they met too much resistance.

Did you hear the one about the guy that peeked into a Land Rover and asked the owner "How can you tell one switch from another at night, since they all look the same?" "He replied, it doesn't matter which one you use, nothing happens!"

Back in the '70s Lucas decided to diversify its product line and began manufacturing vacuum cleaners. It was the only product they offered which didn't suck.

Quality Assurance phoned and advised the Engineering guy that they had trouble with his design shorting out. So he made the wires longer.

Why do the English drink warm beer? Lucas makes the refrigerators.

Alexander Graham Bell invented the Telephone.
Thomas Edison invented the Light Bulb.
Joseph Lucas invented the Short Circuit.

Recommended procedure before taking on a repair of Lucas equipment: check the position of the stars, kill a chicken and walk three times sunwise around your car chanting: "Oh mighty Prince of Darkness protect your unworthy servant."

Lucas systems actually uses AC current; it just has a random frequency.

maylar said:

The stock Lucas headlamp is rather poor if you actually expect to see anything at night. I replaced mine with a halogen when the bike was still in warrantee.

Click to expand...

What about using a halogen bulb with the Lucas reflector?

swooshdave said:

maylar said:

The stock Lucas headlamp is rather poor if you actually expect to see anything at night. I replaced mine with a halogen when the bike was still in warrantee.

Click to expand...

What about using a halogen bulb with the Lucas reflector?

Click to expand...

I was wondering about this the other day while looking at a rack of bulbs in the NAPA store. I made a mental note to look for a donor headlight out of a car so I could get a mount and plug to play with. The trick would be to mount the bulb at the correct position in the reflector to take advantage of its shape. The sealed beam might be easier.

One advantage of the stock setup is that you can use a 21-watt halogen pilot light to keep the gendarmerie at bay--the sealed-beam units draw at least 60 watts.


Tim Kraakevik
kraakevik@vaoyager.net
Three Commandos

The H4 plug will give you the option and luxury to go the the local parts store and get any seal beam you want. This particular one is great. Very bright and spreads a very wide beam. I operate this the with standard wiring and no relay. 55L 65H 4000k Around 24 Oragonian pedstoids. ($)
Ya know, getting rid of fault ridden componants like Zeners, Assimulators, capacitor, rectALfiers and the like, the electrical system works effient and cleanly with out all the extra fuse blocks and relay which IMHO can only reintroduce an avenue for fault. The more connections, the higher the resistance(the enemy of eletrical systems)See Ohn's Law!
Common sence tells me to keep it clean.



Notice the side directionals that spray lots of light to the sides. It feels really good having that huge swath out in front of you.

pvisseriii said:

getting rid of fault ridden componants like Zeners, Assimulators, capacitor, rectALfiers and the like, the electrical system works effient and cleanly with out all the extra fuse blocks and relay which IMHO can only reintroduce an avenue for fault. The more connections, the higher the resistance(the enemy of eletrical systems)See Ohn's Law!
Common sence tells me to keep it clean.

Click to expand...

I disagree with you on fuse block, but agree with everything else. A fuse block is good to isolate a few different circuits such as ignition, lights, and everything else so that in the event of a fault, not everything goes south. As for the rest of the "improvements" like headlight relays, relays for the horn and relays for ignition, pure overkill especially with new wiring and new switches.

KISS principle wins over complexity, especially for reliability.

As for my headlight, it is a common sealed beam, good enough for city riding, I may replace it with an H4 in the future.

Jean

Jeandr said:

A fuse block is good to isolate a few different circuits such as ignition, lights, and everything else so that in the event of a fault, not everything goes south. As for the rest of the "improvements" like headlight relays, relays for the horn and relays for ignition, pure overkill especially with new wiring and new switches.

KISS principle wins over complexity, especially for reliability.

As for my headlight, it is a common sealed beam, good enough for city riding, I may replace it with an H4 in the future.

Jean

Click to expand...

I guess agree with you Jeandr, especially for long adventurous riders and as long as we keep our connection secure and to a minimum, .

I have tried a couple of halogen sealed beams, but was never satisfied with the light pattern. However, I never tried the Silverstar. With modern cars going to separate bulb lights, the days of finding a seal beam at any store is lessening. It is now as easy or easier to find an H4 bulb than a dual filament 7" seal beam.

I use Bosch and Cibie motorcycle reflectors with separate H4 bulb. (An H4 bulb will not fit into a stock Lucas reflector. There is nothing to hold the bulb.)

I found this page that unscientifically compares Bosch auto reflectors with Bosch motorcycle reflectors.

http://www.ratwell.com/technical/BoschH4.html#cycle

I have tried a couple of halogen sealed beams, but was never satisfied with the light pattern. However, I never tried the Silverstar. With modern cars going to separate bulb lights, the days of finding a seal beam at any store is lessening. It is now as easy or easier to find an H4 bulb than a dual filament 7" seal beam.

I use Bosch and Cibie motorcycle reflectors with separate H4 bulb. (An H4 bulb will not fit into a stock Lucas reflector. There is nothing to hold the bulb.)

Click to expand...

That's why one guy talked about safety wiring one in! :shock:

Ron L said:

I found this page that unscientifically compares Bosch auto reflectors with Bosch motorcycle reflectors.

http://www.ratwell.com/technical/BoschH4.html#cycle

Click to expand...

Yup, read that page, still don't know where to buy it from.

First you need to decide if your electrical system is up to the task of handling a Halogen. All upgrades to the stock headlamp will draw more current than the Lucas factory bulb. If you still have the 130 watt charging system, stick to the stock lamp.

Reflectors and lamps work together. The Lucas reflector doesn't work well with H4 bulbs.

Bite the bullet and replace the whole thing. Hobot is very fond of this one:
http://store.candlepower.com/ca53mohe.html

I'm currently using a Wipac light intended for a Mini. I wanted to keep the pilot lamp feature, I now run a 20 watt halogen for DRL.

http://www.gbcarparts.com/proddetail.as ... OpticPilot

They come in pairs.. gave one to a friend. Be aware that Wipac's come in US and UK "dip".

Eastern Beaver relay system (for positive earth) and a Raybrig or Philips Vision Plus H4 bulb, plus a cheap aftermarket reflector - about $100 total.

Being able to see at night...priceless!

BrianK said:

Eastern Beaver relay system (for positive earth) and a Raybrig or Philips Vision Plus H4 bulb, plus a cheap aftermarket reflector - about $100 total.

Being able to see at night...priceless!

Click to expand...

Where does this "cheap aftermarket reflector" come from?

I searched online Dave. You can easily spend $70 plus for one, but if you keep looking you'll find em for like $14 or so.

Actually, last time I bought "one" for $25-ish (for the Guzzi) I ended up with a pair, so if you want one, let me know. Yours for shipping, WHICH, HOWEVER, seems to be pricey for individuals as opposed to businesses. But I could send it by slow boat if you want it.

EDIT: Into the garage, took a look at it, it's an Autopal 178 mm - that's all it says. Same size as ordinary sealed beam, that's all I know.

BrianK said:

I searched online Dave. You can easily spend $70 plus for one, but if you keep looking you'll find em for like $14 or so.

Actually, last time I bought "one" for $25-ish (for the Guzzi) I ended up with a pair, so if you want one, let me know. Yours for shipping, WHICH, HOWEVER, seems to be pricey for individuals as opposed to businesses. But I could send it by slow boat if you want it.

EDIT: Into the garage, took a look at it, it's an Autopal 178 mm - that's all it says. Same size as ordinary sealed beam, that's all I know.

Click to expand...

Slow boat from Boston to Oregon? I think they have the Panama Canal to make that journey faster nowadays. :mrgreen:

USPS Flat Rate box for it will be $10. Let me make sure the Paypal account has something in it...

Hell, I'll eat it. PM me your addy Dave. Glad to see someone getting some use out of it.

Got a shitload of H4 bulbs if ya want one o' those too.

BrianK said:

Hell, I'll eat it. PM me your addy Dave. Glad to see someone getting some use out of it.

Got a shitload of H4 bulbs if ya want one o' those too.

Click to expand...

PM sent. Thank you!

My pleasure. I'll get out to you in the next couple days Dave.