Truck-Lite 27270C 7" Round LED Headlamp

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commando6868

commando6868

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I bought one of these and I am attempting to install it in a '75 Commando. the stock headlight shell rim is not deep enough. The back of the headlight protrudes too far back and the catch at the bottom of the rim cannot engage, a rim that is a bit deeper/thicker would work. Has anyone had any success with this installation? Will any headlight rims form other bikes fit?
The bulb is low draw and plugs right in to any H-4 socket, polarity is not an issue, it works with pos-ground..

I got mine here:

http://www.ebay.com/usr/pbsb6044

MF
 
commando6868 said:
I bought one of these and I am attempting to install it in a '75 Commando. the stock headlight shell rim is not deep enough. The back of the headlight protrudes too far back and the catch at the bottom of the rim cannot engage, a rim that is a bit deeper/thicker would work. Has anyone had any success with this installation? Will any headlight rims form other bikes fit?
The bulb is low draw and plugs right in to any H-4 socket, polarity is not an issue, it works with pos-ground..

I got mine here:

http://www.ebay.com/usr/pbsb6044

MF
Click to expand...
90 degree female spades used without the plug help?
 
It should fit. Mine is a GE Nighthawke which looks exactly the same. I even wen to the trouble of insulating it because I was told it was negative earth. It does stick out the front of the rim quite a bit, but does fit. I also have 3 relays sitting in the nacelle behind that light unit. Everything is standard. It is a heavy unit though, but drawing only 1.8 amps per beam is what is so good about it. It is so much brighter now that you caqnt see the edges of the road quite so well on tight corners so I fitted a couple of extra small spots aimed slightly up and out to give me good side vision as well. Still doesn't look as busy as Hobots "instrument panel". As soon as I figure out this Photofucket thing I will post some pictures. My camera seems to take pictures with too much of them pixel things and I cant email them.

Dereck
 
Keep trying. I fit one to my 1970 fastback. Amazing amount of light without being polarity sensitive.
 
concours said:
commando6868 said:
I bought one of these and I am attempting to install it in a '75 Commando. the stock headlight shell rim is not deep enough. The back of the headlight protrudes too far back and the catch at the bottom of the rim cannot engage, a rim that is a bit deeper/thicker would work. Has anyone had any success with this installation? Will any headlight rims form other bikes fit?
The bulb is low draw and plugs right in to any H-4 socket, polarity is not an issue, it works with pos-ground..

I got mine here:

http://www.ebay.com/usr/pbsb6044

MF
Click to expand...
90 degree female spades used without the plug help?
Click to expand...

The H-4 socket fits in the bucket OK, but the tab at the bottom of the rim will not go in the slot, the "shell" of the LED light is too close. I can't see how others have fitted it. I am going to a cycle salvage in Hudson tomorrow, I will see if I can come up with an alternate rim.
Possibly kerinorton could post a photo, the GE does look the same.

MF
 
commando6868 said:
concours said:
commando6868 said:
I bought one of these and I am attempting to install it in a '75 Commando. the stock headlight shell rim is not deep enough. The back of the headlight protrudes too far back and the catch at the bottom of the rim cannot engage, a rim that is a bit deeper/thicker would work. Has anyone had any success with this installation? Will any headlight rims form other bikes fit?
The bulb is low draw and plugs right in to any H-4 socket, polarity is not an issue, it works with pos-ground..

I got mine here:

http://www.ebay.com/usr/pbsb6044

MF
Click to expand...
90 degree female spades used without the plug help?
Click to expand...

The H-4 socket fits in the bucket OK, but the tab at the bottom of the rim will not go in the slot, the "shell" of the LED light is too close. I can't see how others have fitted it. I am going to a cycle salvage in Hudson tomorrow, I will see if I can come up with an alternate rim.
Possibly kerinorton could post a photo, the GE does look the same.

MF
Click to expand...

McDevitt Mack? :P JK Mike
Seriously though, I thought those dimensions were somewhat standardized half a century ago.... I figured any modern "drop in replacement" would adhere to those.
Especially from a well respected lighting company.
 
kerinorton said:
Mike, you had better tell everyone you have got it sorted out.
Dereck
Click to expand...


This is true.
I guess the headlight rim on my '75 was manufactured a bit smaller than others. I used a rubber dead blow mallet to tap it on to the LED headlight body, it was very tight but it eventually was forced on.
I tried it last night in the shop and it is very bright. I plan on riding headlight on, to the Asheville Rally, no worries about over taxing the electrics with the LED. I may get one night ride here before the snow flies, we don't have any yet, this isn't Buffalo NY!
 
Last update on the LED light. I recently installed the LED headlamp, it fits into the standard Norton 7 inch round headlight ring on my '75. it is manufactured by a company called Truck-Light.it plugs into the standard H-4 socket , and it also works with positive or negative ground. On the box it states "solid-state LED design does not use a filament or bulb tube, and is unaffected by rigorous shock and vibration"
The light it throws is bright white, low beam is probably about the same visibility as the halogen bulb but it is a brighter white. Where it really shines........... is the high bean. It has a split design with two separate LEDs, one LED For low beam, both LEDs for high-beam. the second LED in addition to the low beam, produces a much better light spread that a halogen bulb with a single filament illuminated. I have not found that it produces any heat whatsoever, there is no cooling fan inside it has a poly carbonate lens that is non-yellowing impact resistant.
The unit draws 1.8 A on low beam and 3.6 A on highbeam, you can ride around all day with the light on and it won't draw your battery down. It is also made in the USA. The only downside to it, I think, is the price, $166.00 on ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/One-Truck-Lite- ... 70&vxp=mtr

Is it worth it? With a long ride coming up next July to Asheville North Carolina, having a bright headlight on during the day, and for the occasional rides at night is a plus and worth the money to me.
I went for a ride last night to try it out, 60 degrees out, now it is snowing. :evil:
 
kerinorton said:
the only other difference between it and a regular H4 SSB is its weight. As mentioned before, it is about 4 times heavier.
Dereck
Other advantages 1/ you can run other LED lights at the same time and not put pressure on your charging system.
2/ its stated life span far exceeds a regular H4 bulb.


read this thread where-can-get-decent-better-head-lamps-t19683-15.html?hilit=ge%20nighthawk#p252767
Click to expand...

Yes, much heavier, but not a problem, I can diet a bit. I have the two relays in the shell I had been using for the H4 bulb. I just plugged in the LED and everything fits.
Unfortunately I will have to wait a while for a longer ride/test, but this is New England, you never know.

MF
 
I've been in the market for a better light and, although a bit pricey, this seems like a great solution so I ordered this exact light and plan to install it along with my other winter projects. I recently read about other LED options on this forum and elsewhere and of primary concern was heat. In this thread it was observed that this light did not produce any heat whatsoever. Which made me curios. So, before installing the light, I hooked it up to a battery on the bench (it is bright!) and let it sit on high beam for about 15 minutes - after which it was too hot to touch. A digital thermometer gave a reading of 140F for the black surface on the back of the light. On low bean it dropped to about 130F.

I do not know if this is going to be a problem when installed inside the confines of the headlight shell. I recall that other lights (some with fans) come with instructions to remove the rubber grommet in the shell (where the wires come in) to improve air flow.

I know it's not riding season, but has anyone had a chance to try out this light in the real world? Did you noticed your light (shell) getting overly hot or any issues with excess heat buildup inside the shell?

Thanks.
 
njmike said:
I've been in the market for a better light and, although a bit pricey, this seems like a great solution so I ordered this exact light and plan to install it along with my other winter projects. I recently read about other LED options on this forum and elsewhere and of primary concern was heat. In this thread it was observed that this light did not produce any heat whatsoever. Which made me curios. So, before installing the light, I hooked it up to a battery on the bench (it is bright!) and let it sit on high beam for about 15 minutes - after which it was too hot to touch. A digital thermometer gave a reading of 140F for the black surface on the back of the light. On low bean it dropped to about 130F.

I do not know if this is going to be a problem when installed inside the confines of the headlight shell. I recall that other lights (some with fans) come with instructions to remove the rubber grommet in the shell (where the wires come in) to improve air flow.

I know it's not riding season, but has anyone had a chance to try out this light in the real world? Did you noticed your light (shell) getting overly hot or any issues with excess heat buildup inside the shell?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

You should try the same experiment with a regular bulb... bet you it will be a LOT hotter.

Jean
 
Point taken! I ran the same test on the stock light with a 55/65W bulb (I think an original stock bulb is 45/55?). On high beam the temp read 134F and on low beam 126F (again, on the back surface of the light). It did take a bit longer though for the stock light temp to stabilize – about 25 minutes as opposed to 15 for the LED.

My take is that even though this LED runs a bit hotter, it's in the ballpark of a non-LED bulb, so it should not be an issue.

Mike
 
Mmmm, I expected the stock bulb's temperature to be higher... I'm thinking that most of the heat from the LED is dissipated in the heat sink on the back since what goes out the front is mainly light energy. A normal incadecent bulb I would think would send heat at the back as well as the front.

At home I had an halogen lamp that burned a hole in a window that was close to it's front surface, the LED light I put in as a replacement is cool to the touch in front with the same light output.

Jean
 
mikie3117 said:
Keep trying. I fit one to my 1970 fastback. Amazing amount of light without being polarity sensitive.
Click to expand...

How to tell if the HLamp is polarity sensitive?
 
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