NEW headlight reflector from Bratton

rons49

rons49

Senior Member
Well, after reading member threads on the quality of Brattons "Aluminum" reflector pans, I bought 'em and installed them. To be honest, my old ones were pretty good with just a few light dull blotches in the right side and near flawless on the left. The first thing that I observed was that compared to the new ALUMinized, the old ones were duller with a hint of a copper tone to the mirrored surface. Installation was as expected all went well, except that the parking light bulbs(both sides) tended to lose the ground as if the socket was too small in the pan sleeve. I needed to force in some aluminum foil to tighten the bulb sockets. Result of the 32 CP headlight was slightly better at idle, but when "reved" past the generator cut in speed, the lights down right Glowed. I found that there was no effect of turning the focusing screw. ODD! Never the less, they are better then the silver reflectors of a 20 year old replate. If you need new pans, IMO these are the way to go. Ron
 
Sounds like the ones that I bought in 05. The lights are very bright but can't be focused. I used the 35w halogen bulbs that fit original sockets with the original generator. The lights don't dim at idle like they did with original style 50 candle power bulbs and repro reflectors but are impossible to properly focus. Its not that I don't know how to focus model A headlamps. I had no problem focusing even the headlamp reflectors that I bought from Ricks in the seventies.
 
I had no problem with the park light bulbs, they fit and work good but this was with the previous run of the aluminized reflectors. After the problems that I have with the first set of expensive reflectors, I have been reluctant to try the second attempt
 
I saw the posts of a few days ago. That is why I am advising you all of my experience. I am using bulbs from the Eisenhower years, very old with brass bases, 32 CP. The same ones that I had in my old silvered pans. I suspect that the repro headlight socket and springs may be the culprit on the focusing issue, since I remember that my old reflector pans would not focus either. No biggie. I set my car back from the wall at 25 ft. 1930 Coupe, I did exactly that with the tabs . BTW, the refectors are made in Taiwan. Purdy, I wonder why the halogens don't dim. One of the guys in the Old Pueblo As (Tucson) put them in his 29. I'll look at his.
 
I think that the reason that the lights don't dim at idle is the 35w halogen bulbs.I think that I remember Kevins brother Kurt in NJ posting that he used the 35w halogen bulbs and they also didn't dim at idle. Others that used the first run of the aluminized reflectors reported that they were unable to focus the beams. It was later said that the shape opf the reflectors were incorrect and that was the reason that the beams wouldn't focus. I used older repro sockets. I do have some of the 50 candle power bulbs and have considered tring them. I am running 12 volts and can't use the old original bulbs with this application. If a person is running a 60 amp alternator, Brattons sells a kit, reflectors included that uses 60/55w quartz halogen bulbs that are just as good as the headlamps on modern cars and focus perfectly. I just wanted the best halogen setup that I could run with the original generator in our roadster and the reflectors seem to be the problem. I may end up tring some old reflectors that I have on the shelf that ain't perfect but still purdy good, just to see how well that they will focus with the 35w halogen bulbs. Its just too hot here to fool with them now.
 
Last edited:
Interesting on the reversed wires. But my headlight hardware is over 25 years old, so they ain't new. If you turn the focus screw in, ie, clockwise, what should the result be... a wider or narrower beam?
 
Back again! this issue with the lack of the ability has been bugging me, then I realized that I never looked at the position of the headlight filaments in the sockets. Sure enough, the two filaments were side to side like II ,not upper & lower like = . I'm am sure that was the problem that prohibited proper focus of high beams (top filament) vs low beams ( lower filament). All you amateurs like me, be guided accordingly. Les Andrews book has a bit regarding alignment.
 
Rons49, I've seen the filaments sideways before. When we had our spring tuneup clinic a couple showed up like that and we had to turn the sockets 90*.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top