The Ford Barn

Tom Cavallaro · 10-22-2015, 06:56 PM

purchased the new headlight reflectors from Brattons...90.00. Finally got the lights to adjust according to the way I interstand it.
You adjust the lights with the high beams I think....is the high beam the V shaped element? And the V shaped element on top? Which is the light switch all the way to the right? If I am correct to this point, it leaves a lot to be desired.....I read that this is enough to drive a fifty five miles per hour. Right now, if I'm driving thirty five its tough seeing....and if another car approaches, the road seems to disappear. What am I doing wrong? Besides driving at night!
Tom

Charlie Stephens · 10-22-2015, 08:16 PM

Are all of your grounds clean?

Charlie Stephens

Mike V. Florida · 10-22-2015, 10:50 PM

When the lighting switch
handle -is pointed straight down, the lights are off. Turning
handle first position to right from the " off" position gives a
downward tilting beam for city driving. Turning handle to second
position to right provides a beam which gives exceptionally
brilliant road illumination for country driving. Turning handle
all the way to the left turns on the parking lights.

Mike V. Florida · 10-22-2015, 10:52 PM

Let me add this as well,

http://www.abarnyard.com/workshop/focus-2a.htm

BILL WILLIAMSON · 10-23-2015, 05:50 AM

With the trickiness & difficulty in getting the lights adjusted, I can understand why MANY changed over to the sealed beam lights.
Bill W.

updraught · 10-23-2015, 07:37 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

As you age you need more light to be able to see clearly. Heck, I'm a spring chicken (!) and I don't think 32 candle power is ever going to cut the mustard no matter how its pointed. However, I'd be interested to see a photo of how good it can be when sorted.

My modern car has a 22,000 lumen light bar in addition to the headlights which have had considerable work, and its adequate for our roads.

I'm keen to see how the LED globes work. Together with a carbon fiber head gasket the A could get a high tech make over ...

Kevin in NJ · 10-23-2015, 07:47 AM

You can put 22,000 lumen modern bulbs in the A and still not be able to see. Light at the top of the trees is kind of useless.

It is about focusing the light to go where you need it.

There is some merit the direct replacement halogen bulbs. They are brighter and work fine with the generator.

Some of the direct replacement halogen bulbs from India did not have the filaments positioned properly. They were rotated and not quite in the right position. Classic and Vintage bulbs were properly built, but the ones I am aware of are now getting close to 10 years old, I would hope they are still good.

Headlamps are also about clean connections with original parts for best effect. Clean connections included making sure the path from the bottom of the light to the frame has bare metal contacting all the way.

ericr · 10-23-2015, 11:22 AM

does anyone have the post handy about aligning the headlights with a carpenter's level?

updraught · 10-24-2015, 12:44 AM

Hope they get around to producing these in the right size for the A:

https://www.bobdrake.com/FordItem.as...4-3c7d03dd43a1

Looks like the standard ones have the "aluminized" coating so maybe these do too.

The Classic and Vintage Bulbs stand at the last swap we went to seemed to be popular.

CarlG · 10-24-2015, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by updraught

Hope they get around to producing these in the right size for the A:

https://www.bobdrake.com/FordItem.as...4-3c7d03dd43a1

I have had these now for 4 years, works great.

http://www.macsautoparts.com/ford_mo...ed-chrome.html

updraught · 10-24-2015, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarlG

I have had these now for 4 years, works great.

http://www.macsautoparts.com/ford_mo...ed-chrome.html

Do you think they have been redesigned for halogen bulbs or are they standard reflectors converted?

Charlie Stephens · 10-24-2015, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by updraught

Hope they get around to producing these in the right size for the A:

https://www.bobdrake.com/FordItem.as...4-3c7d03dd43a1

Looks like the standard ones have the "aluminized" coating so maybe these do too.

The Classic and Vintage Bulbs stand at the last swap we went to seemed to be popular.

If they did it would be the only Model A part they produce. They don't even have a place for Model A parts in their current catalog. I wouldn't hold my breath.

Charlie Stephens

RonC · 10-24-2015, 05:46 AM

I use Brattons reflectors with his 50-50 bulbs. They are bright and if left on high beams people will flash you. The trick is to focus and align the heads. Use the service bulletins for the procedure. If you can't find a shop with a flat floor for the required distance to align your heads you could get away with aligning them on a dark level street. I used to run NOS bulbs which do focus better than the repos they make now but the added brightness of the 50cp bulbs seem to negate that. I also run an alternator and LED rear tail light inserts. Your ground circuit must clean and should be part of your maintence schedule

KGBnut · 10-24-2015, 07:24 AM

I second the comments about ground. I have found that your ground is almost never as good as you think it is. I ran separate, heavy, ground wires direct to the frame. They hide very nicely inside the conduits.

I have new Bratton's reflectors, 6 volt, positive ground, and am running an original generator and drive happily day or night.

Ken

Tom Cavallaro · 10-24-2015, 08:21 AM

Anyone have a part number and supplier for the direct replacement six volt halogen bulbs?
I would love to see what the difference would be.
Thanks gentlemen, I'm sucking up all this information
Tom

10-22-2015, 06:56 PM	#1
Tom Cavallaro Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Barrington, NJ Posts: 280	Headlights? purchased the new headlight reflectors from Brattons...90.00. Finally got the lights to adjust according to the way I interstand it. You adjust the lights with the high beams I think....is the high beam the V shaped element? And the V shaped element on top? Which is the light switch all the way to the right? If I am correct to this point, it leaves a lot to be desired.....I read that this is enough to drive a fifty five miles per hour. Right now, if I'm driving thirty five its tough seeing....and if another car approaches, the road seems to disappear. What am I doing wrong? Besides driving at night! Tom __________________ I work very hard to avoid all and any mistakes. I thought I made a mistake once, but I was wrong.

10-22-2015, 08:16 PM	#2
Charlie Stephens Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,033	Re: Headlights? Are all of your grounds clean? Charlie Stephens

10-22-2015, 10:52 PM	#4
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Headlights? Let me add this as well, http://www.abarnyard.com/workshop/focus-2a.htm __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

10-23-2015, 05:50 AM	#5
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Headlights? With the trickiness & difficulty in getting the lights adjusted, I can understand why MANY changed over to the sealed beam lights. Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

10-23-2015, 07:37 AM	#6
updraught Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Australia Posts: 1,971	Re: Headlights? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) As you age you need more light to be able to see clearly. Heck, I'm a spring chicken (!) and I don't think 32 candle power is ever going to cut the mustard no matter how its pointed. However, I'd be interested to see a photo of how good it can be when sorted. My modern car has a 22,000 lumen light bar in addition to the headlights which have had considerable work, and its adequate for our roads. I'm keen to see how the LED globes work. Together with a carbon fiber head gasket the A could get a high tech make over ...

10-23-2015, 07:47 AM	#7
Kevin in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South East NJ Posts: 3,398	Re: Headlights? You can put 22,000 lumen modern bulbs in the A and still not be able to see. Light at the top of the trees is kind of useless. It is about focusing the light to go where you need it. There is some merit the direct replacement halogen bulbs. They are brighter and work fine with the generator. Some of the direct replacement halogen bulbs from India did not have the filaments positioned properly. They were rotated and not quite in the right position. Classic and Vintage bulbs were properly built, but the ones I am aware of are now getting close to 10 years old, I would hope they are still good. Headlamps are also about clean connections with original parts for best effect. Clean connections included making sure the path from the bottom of the light to the frame has bare metal contacting all the way.

10-23-2015, 11:22 AM	#8
ericr Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 1,542	Re: Headlights? does anyone have the post handy about aligning the headlights with a carpenter's level?

10-24-2015, 12:44 AM	#9
updraught Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Australia Posts: 1,971	Re: Headlights? Hope they get around to producing these in the right size for the A: https://www.bobdrake.com/FordItem.as...4-3c7d03dd43a1 Looks like the standard ones have the "aluminized" coating so maybe these do too. The Classic and Vintage Bulbs stand at the last swap we went to seemed to be popular.

10-24-2015, 05:46 AM	#13
RonC Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 1,868	Re: Headlights? I use Brattons reflectors with his 50-50 bulbs. They are bright and if left on high beams people will flash you. The trick is to focus and align the heads. Use the service bulletins for the procedure. If you can't find a shop with a flat floor for the required distance to align your heads you could get away with aligning them on a dark level street. I used to run NOS bulbs which do focus better than the repos they make now but the added brightness of the 50cp bulbs seem to negate that. I also run an alternator and LED rear tail light inserts. Your ground circuit must clean and should be part of your maintence schedule

10-24-2015, 07:24 AM	#14
KGBnut Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Southwestern Connecticut Posts: 931	Re: Headlights? I second the comments about ground. I have found that your ground is almost never as good as you think it is. I ran separate, heavy, ground wires direct to the frame. They hide very nicely inside the conduits. I have new Bratton's reflectors, 6 volt, positive ground, and am running an original generator and drive happily day or night. Ken __________________ Style beats speed any day, and with a lot fewer tickets.

10-24-2015, 08:21 AM	#15
Tom Cavallaro Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Barrington, NJ Posts: 280	Re: Headlights? Anyone have a part number and supplier for the direct replacement six volt halogen bulbs? I would love to see what the difference would be. Thanks gentlemen, I'm sucking up all this information Tom __________________ I work very hard to avoid all and any mistakes. I thought I made a mistake once, but I was wrong.