Fawken
Platinum Member
I rigged my headlights years ago to use the $7 halogen bulbs available at AutoZone. Used the OEM reflectors, just changed the sockets. Lights are brighter by far than OEM.
I rigged my headlights years ago to use the $7 halogen bulbs available at AutoZone. Used the OEM reflectors, just changed the sockets. Lights are brighter by far than OEM.
Thanks for the reply. My issue isn't with the bulbs, it is that the chrome rings, and the actual base, which are rotted through. Between years of me not covering the grill opening totally with the canvas, which let the weather in, and the acid fumes from the battery, the lights are pretty much toast. I need some type of flat mount lights to fill in the holes in the grills.
I actually don't even use those lights much. I have a set of halogens mounted to the ROP cab, since I got tired of the loader being in the way of the lights all the time. Once I get the tractor all cleaned up, I am thinking of putting an LED light bar up on the cross member. But for now, I just want to get the holes in the grill filled back in.
Fawken
Platinum Member
Sounds to me like you need to look for a used front hood with the grill and headlight assemblies in decent shape. I'd do that before spending a hundred and something on a headlight. Was that for two headlights with the reflectors and sockets?
No, that was for ONE light assembly! That is what happens when you are looking for OEM parts for a 30+ year old tractor. Unfortunately, there aren't really a lot of these machines left around in my neck of the woods to find parts off of. And, unless it came from a really dry climate, I am afraid most any hood you would find would be rusted out in the same place.
I actually had the lower section of the hood re-built 20 some odd years ago, as it was quite rusted when I got it. The guy did a good job of replacing the lower front area with steel stock and angle iron. I sealed it up as well as I could with paint and undercoat. But now, the where it transitions back to the original sheet metal, it is all perforated.
Ok, well I got the headlights cleaned up. One is much worse than the other. I sandblasted the bases, and after cleaning up the rings best I could, I have given them a good coat of rust converter. Does anyone know where I can find the spring clips that hold the ring and lens to the reflectors? I only have a couple that were not rusted away.
Fawken
Platinum Member
No clue. I can take pics of how I did mine if you're interested. Look at it this way; are the plastic hoods on the new machines going to last 30 years? That and will they work as a nice table for cutting 2x6's when you're building a house?
While I would love to see how you accomplished the light conversion, I don't want to make you have to go through the trouble of posting the pictures. But if you want to, that would be great.
I stopped by a local auto parts store, and held a 4 1/2" sealed beam light to my light. I am guessing you separated the reflector from the rear mount, and dropped the sealed beam inside. One of the lights is in pretty poor condition, and I don't know if it would stand up to being taken apart. And, if your method requires I re-use the ring and spring keepers, I would need to replace the springs with something.
I was hoping to find some kind of surface mount light that would go into the hole in the grille!
Believe me, I am totally impressed with how well this little tractor has held up over the years. It owes me nothing, for what I have put it through! If the modern New Holland machines were built like this, I would buy one in a minute (if I couldn't fix this one
)
Fawken
Platinum Member
While I would love to see how you accomplished the light conversion, I don't want to make you have to go through the trouble of posting the pictures. But if you want to, that would be great.
I stopped by a local auto parts store, and held a 4 1/2" sealed beam light to my light. I am guessing you separated the reflector from the rear mount, and dropped the sealed beam inside. One of the lights is in pretty poor condition, and I don't know if it would stand up to being taken apart. And, if your method requires I re-use the ring and spring keepers, I would need to replace the springs with something.
I was hoping to find some kind of surface mount light that would go into the hole in the grille!
Believe me, I am totally impressed with how well this little tractor has held up over the years. It owes me nothing, for what I have put it through! If the modern New Holland machines were built like this, I would buy one in a minute (if I couldn't fix this one
No I did not do anything quite that creative. I also restore old motorbikes so you can imagine some of the things I have to fabricate. I bought cheap sockets that were a little bigger than the hole in the reflector, put in the halogen bulbs and used small sheet metal screws to attach homemade base plate holders to the reflector. I think I might have used beer cans for that. I'll get a couple of pics in the morning. I do know that I rewired all the lights with 14ga stranded and soldered every spade.
Fawken
Platinum Member
Here is what I did. Not beer cans but close. Pieces of scrap 1/16 aluminum and self-tapping computer case bolts:
The bulb is one sold at AutoZone that has a spade already attached and a large chromed base:
If you look closely you can see my reflectors are quite rusty:
The halogen bulbs more than make up for the rusty reflectors- brighter than when new:
The bulb is one sold at AutoZone that has a spade already attached and a large chromed base:
If you look closely you can see my reflectors are quite rusty:
The halogen bulbs more than make up for the rusty reflectors- brighter than when new:
Ah, now I see what you did. I thought you removed the reflector, and dropped in a 4 1/2" sealed beam light.
If there is any of the original Ford light there, it is very different then the system I have. My reflectors are spot welded to a flat backed can, that had three studs sticking out the back. Those three studs go through a rectangular plate that mounts to the plastic grill from the inside of the steel mesh. The lens is held on by a chrome ring that is retained by 4 spring clips. My issues are that the chrome rings, spring clips, and mounting cans are rusted out. I have cleaned them up the best I can by sandblasting, rust converter, and rusty metal primer. While it will all go back together, once I figure out a replacement for the spring clips, I don't know if they will last one more CT Fall/Winter.
I will post some pictures tonight if I can get to it.
If there is any of the original Ford light there, it is very different then the system I have. My reflectors are spot welded to a flat backed can, that had three studs sticking out the back. Those three studs go through a rectangular plate that mounts to the plastic grill from the inside of the steel mesh. The lens is held on by a chrome ring that is retained by 4 spring clips. My issues are that the chrome rings, spring clips, and mounting cans are rusted out. I have cleaned them up the best I can by sandblasting, rust converter, and rusty metal primer. While it will all go back together, once I figure out a replacement for the spring clips, I don't know if they will last one more CT Fall/Winter.
I will post some pictures tonight if I can get to it.
