Headlight switch position

[Russell Reay]

I have never driven my car at night, but just installed a pair of focused beam bulbs just to be prepared. When adjusting the aim it became apparent that my hi- and low beam switch positions are reversed. 4 o'clock is low and 5 o'clock is high. I have a new Bratton's wiring harness and turn signals, and there has been no indication of any wiring problems. The headlight bucket is stamped two-light, but there is only one socket inside. Do I have a spider problem?

 

[Y-Blockhead]

I would just switch the wires in the headlight bucket. Since all the wires in the headlight bucket are black, it is easy to get them switched.

 

[Jim/GA]

It is not a spider problem.

There are two possibilities...

1) You put the red tracer wires and the green tracer wires in the wrong slots of the little plug that connects to the bottom of the headlight bucket. It's easy to do. Open both sides up and check where the wires are.

2) If the red/green wires are correct, the LED bulbs need to be installed 180 degrees turned from where you have them now. The pins on the base of the bulb will let them go in either way. They must go in with the black stripe on top. So you may have to loosen the little allen setscrew on the bulb and rotate it 1/2 turn so that when you plug the bulb in again 1/2 turn around, the black stripe will remain on top.

When installing the reflectors, did you make sure that the slot in the bulb hole in the reflector was always on the right (as you are looking into the headlight bucket) and that the little tab in the headlight socket is lined up in that slot? This is critical for proper headlight beam orientation. I find many headlights assembled without the tab in the slot at all.

I hope this helps.

 

[Russell Reay]

It never ends. The red and green wires are in the correct slots, the black stripe is at the top of the bulb. The right reflector was 180* off. It has only one slot, and it is located correctly to accept the reflector. The photo is of the left reflector. Note it has two slots, but they are 90*off from correctly sliding over the socket. I suspect this is from a different vintage car. I can cut a slot in the correct location, but don't think that will correct the original problem. Further thoughts?

 

[Jim/GA]

So the right side is fixed. Get the headlamp socket slot on the right and get the black stripe on top and it will be correct.

Scrounge up another used reflector from another Model A guy for the left side. The Focussed LED bulbs do not reflect light in the reflectors, so it does not need to be a high quality, shiny reflector. It mainly serves to hold the bulb in place. Get that reflector in with the slot on the right and the bulb in with the black stripe on top and you will be good to go.

This is easy!

 

[rotorwrench]

If its not the headlamp connections, it may be the connections at the headlight switch terminal block disk. Most of those are attached to the harness when it's purchased but it doesn't hurt to check it against the wiring diagram.

Headlamps could have the park light in the upper part of the reflector or not. I depended on whether the car has cowl lamps or not.

 

[Russell Reay]

Cut a slot in the correct location for the reflector. Tried to switch red and green wires in the connector, but the brass plugs and plastic receptacles in the socket plug are sized to prevent this. Removed the main block from the steering box and switched the red and green, and things are where they belong. Now will wait for dark to work on the aim. Thanks for the help.

 

[Ruth]

I have never driven my car at night, but just installed a pair of focused beam bulbs just to be prepared. When adjusting the aim it became apparent that my hi- and low beam switch positions are reversed. 4 o'clock is low and 5 o'clock is high. I have a new Bratton's wiring harness and turn signals, and there has been no indication of any wiring problems. The headlight bucket is stamped two-light, but there is only one socket inside. Do I have a spider problem?

Am I missing something? Couldn't you just flip the bulb 180°?

 

[Joe K]

Am I missing something? Couldn't you just flip the bulb 180°?

True bayonet bulbs are "indexed." Note the positioning of the two lugs.


There is a correlation between the high beam filament (bottom of the bulb) and the low beam filament (top of the bulb) and the lugs.


Perhaps better to flip the socket?" Or the wires?


Joe K

 

[Keith True]

I think I'd just switch the wire positions in the plastic connectors in the rear of the headlight,not in the actual socket assemblies.Using the pre-focused lights with the black stripe tells me he is using the good ones,but they have no top and bottom filaments like the old lights.Also,be VERY careful twisting those things to align them.They are meant to twist a little to one side or the other to level the beam.If you twist too far you can twist the internal connections apart.You can feel that little crunch as the connections come apart.

 

[Ruth]

True bayonet bulbs are "indexed." Note the positioning of the two lugs.

Agreed, but most Model A Ford headlights are NOT indexed.

There is a correlation between the high beam filament (bottom of the bulb) and the low beam filament (top of the bulb) and the lugs.

This is true also, I was thinking of prefocused LED's as that is what the OP said he had. As long as you adjust them so the black line is at the top, your good.

Perhaps better to flip the socket?" Or the wires?

See post #2

Joe K

But it sound like he has it figured out now.

 

[Keith True]

That black line only signifys that he bulb is installed right side up.That black stripe isn't what you level.You don't adjust things to make that stripe centered in the top.If the stripe was in the lower half of the bucket you would be off.If the stripe is on top you are good to adjust.Loosen the allen screw,and twist until your beam is level.

 

[Ruth]

That black line only signifys that he bulb is installed right side up.That black stripe isn't what you level.You don't adjust things to make that stripe centered in the top.If the stripe was in the lower half of the bucket you would be off.If the stripe is on top you are good to adjust.Loosen the allen screw,and twist until your beam is level.

Yes, of course. I didn't mean to suggest to turn the black line 180° to align it at the top.