The Ford Barn

old31 · 10-23-2022, 12:56 PM

Has anyone hooked up a headlight as a signal light with just one bulb?

BillCNC · 10-23-2022, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old31

Has anyone hooked up a headlight as a signal light with just one bulb?

The last time I had a headlight flashing while driving got me a ticket, but I wasn't driving the "A". I'm not sure the law would allow a main headlight to be anything but on or off.

Maybe using the High as the flashing one and the low as the stay on one.

Regards
Bill

Y-Blockhead · 10-23-2022, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillCNC

The last time I had a headlight flashing while driving got me a ticket, but I wasn't driving the "A". I'm not sure the law would allow a main headlight to be anything but on or off.

Maybe using the High as the flashing one and the low as the stay on one.

Regards
Bill

If I saw that coming toward me I would say "What the ?? is wrong with THAT guy's headlights...". Not sure it would register to me a turn signals.

One of the reasons I use amber bulbs (1156A).

dansluck · 10-23-2022, 10:13 PM

I have 2 Model A s that have Logo Lites installed. Easy to install, 6 or 12 volts, Led lights.
Dan

Grumps · 10-24-2022, 07:31 AM

Thanks for all the information. I got an idea of what I need and what to do now and will do a follow up later.

Technite73 · 11-21-2022, 04:07 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Tom, I have this kit in my newly acquird 1930 Cabriolet.

I did not get any paperwork or iformation on the kit.
Do you have the instructions or a schematic?

Thanks,

Ron Russo

Gene F · 11-21-2022, 04:30 PM

May I ask...at the national events, I always thought that safety items are not a deduction of pints for a judged car. I am thinking, fuises, turn signal system, cast iron drums, the outdoor mirrors, etc. ???

Synchro909 · 11-21-2022, 04:43 PM

Here, turn signals are considered a safety item and suffer no loss of points if the car is judged.
There are many, many different lights used but here, the turn signals are amber front and back. Using the brake light as a turn signal has been banned since the mid fifties. Some of the most popular lights are from motor cycles except Harley Davidson. IMO, they are too small.

Gene F · 11-21-2022, 06:15 PM

My car was built March 1928. It has a single tail light. I did add the window mounted aux breakelight. I had a LED buds tail light, but I could not keep it working. I took it out, and went back to a incandescent bulb.

I see cars fitted with turn signals that fir detween the horizontals of the bumpers, and they look fairly slick. I think Macs and Snyders both sell them.

Bob Bidonde · 11-22-2022, 10:21 AM

My Victoria has Bratton's 20401 Main Harness with integral turn signals. The system uses the cowl lights and two LED tail lights for signal lights. Since 2016, this turn signal system has worked well, i.e., no parts failures and excellent in modern traffic. The 20401 system does not self-cancel the signals after a turn, but I positioned the Signal Stat below the spark advance quadrant. As the steering wheel recovers out of a turn, my hand on the steering wheel naturally passes the long lever of the sign stat making it very easy to cancel the lights.

I am going to replace the add-on turn signal system in my Coupe with Bratton's 20401.

Bud · 11-22-2022, 01:12 PM

Years ago I bought a turn signal switch that had a rubber roller in the top. The roller is supposed to be mounted against the steering wheel. The purpose of the roller was to cancel the turn signal. I never mounted it or tested it. Has anyone ever used a turn signal like this? Did it work correctly?

CarlG · 11-22-2022, 03:40 PM

I have the same thing that Bob has except that I bought mine from Sacramento Vintage Ford. 12 years and 25k miles and still going strong.

Dick Carne · 11-22-2022, 05:32 PM

Thought I might weigh in on this as well. My friend, Jim Cannon, installed one of the Turnswitch / Electro-Tech units on our Cabriolet - it works great. Rather than a turn switch lever on the steering column, we elected instead to install a toggle switch under the dash rail just above the instrument panel - it is effectively out of sight and as was noted above, you would have to lean down to see it. The Electro-Tech unit is also self-cancelling, and has a low but audible beep to it as well. If your car has cowl lights, I might suggest that you use those instead of the headlights. In my opinion, folks are not inclined to consider that a turn signal would typically be found in the headlight proper. By the same token, those with additional lights added to the bumper or the lower part of the front of the car, may also find that these may not be as easily seen as something higher on the car's profile would be. In that regard, Snyder's (and perhaps others) carry a cowl light turn signal conversion kit for both 28-29 and 30-31 vehicles. We have three other restored Model A's, and as time and resources permit, it is my plan to add this feature to those cars as well. Good luck whatever route you decide to take.

10-23-2022, 12:56 PM	#21
old31 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 2,133	Re: Wife wants Turn Signals Has anyone hooked up a headlight as a signal light with just one bulb?

10-23-2022, 10:13 PM	#24
dansluck Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Nevada Posts: 220	Re: Wife wants Turn Signals I have 2 Model A s that have Logo Lites installed. Easy to install, 6 or 12 volts, Led lights. Dan

10-24-2022, 07:31 AM	#25
Grumps Member Join Date: Jun 2022 Posts: 88	Re: Wife wants Turn Signals Thanks for all the information. I got an idea of what I need and what to do now and will do a follow up later.

11-21-2022, 04:07 PM	#26
Technite73 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Posts: 29	Re: Wife wants Turn Signals Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Tom, I have this kit in my newly acquird 1930 Cabriolet. I did not get any paperwork or iformation on the kit. Do you have the instructions or a schematic? Thanks, Ron Russo

11-21-2022, 04:30 PM	#27
Gene F Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,051	Re: Wife wants Turn Signals May I ask...at the national events, I always thought that safety items are not a deduction of pints for a judged car. I am thinking, fuises, turn signal system, cast iron drums, the outdoor mirrors, etc. ???

11-21-2022, 04:43 PM	#28
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,564	Re: Wife wants Turn Signals Here, turn signals are considered a safety item and suffer no loss of points if the car is judged. There are many, many different lights used but here, the turn signals are amber front and back. Using the brake light as a turn signal has been banned since the mid fifties. Some of the most popular lights are from motor cycles except Harley Davidson. IMO, they are too small. __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.

11-21-2022, 06:15 PM	#29
Gene F Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,051	Re: Wife wants Turn Signals My car was built March 1928. It has a single tail light. I did add the window mounted aux breakelight. I had a LED buds tail light, but I could not keep it working. I took it out, and went back to a incandescent bulb. I see cars fitted with turn signals that fir detween the horizontals of the bumpers, and they look fairly slick. I think Macs and Snyders both sell them.

11-22-2022, 10:21 AM	#30
Bob Bidonde Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 3,532	Re: Wife wants Turn Signals My Victoria has Bratton's 20401 Main Harness with integral turn signals. The system uses the cowl lights and two LED tail lights for signal lights. Since 2016, this turn signal system has worked well, i.e., no parts failures and excellent in modern traffic. The 20401 system does not self-cancel the signals after a turn, but I positioned the Signal Stat below the spark advance quadrant. As the steering wheel recovers out of a turn, my hand on the steering wheel naturally passes the long lever of the sign stat making it very easy to cancel the lights. I am going to replace the add-on turn signal system in my Coupe with Bratton's 20401. __________________ Bob Bidonde

11-22-2022, 01:12 PM	#31
Bud Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 819	Re: Wife wants Turn Signals Years ago I bought a turn signal switch that had a rubber roller in the top. The roller is supposed to be mounted against the steering wheel. The purpose of the roller was to cancel the turn signal. I never mounted it or tested it. Has anyone ever used a turn signal like this? Did it work correctly?

11-22-2022, 03:40 PM	#32
CarlG Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 9,123	Re: Wife wants Turn Signals I have the same thing that Bob has except that I bought mine from Sacramento Vintage Ford. 12 years and 25k miles and still going strong. __________________ Alaskan A's Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska Model A Ford Club of America Model A Restorers Club Antique Automobile Club of America Mullins Owner's Club

11-22-2022, 05:32 PM	#33
Dick Carne Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fayetteville, Georgia Posts: 467	Re: Wife wants Turn Signals Thought I might weigh in on this as well. My friend, Jim Cannon, installed one of the Turnswitch / Electro-Tech units on our Cabriolet - it works great. Rather than a turn switch lever on the steering column, we elected instead to install a toggle switch under the dash rail just above the instrument panel - it is effectively out of sight and as was noted above, you would have to lean down to see it. The Electro-Tech unit is also self-cancelling, and has a low but audible beep to it as well. If your car has cowl lights, I might suggest that you use those instead of the headlights. In my opinion, folks are not inclined to consider that a turn signal would typically be found in the headlight proper. By the same token, those with additional lights added to the bumper or the lower part of the front of the car, may also find that these may not be as easily seen as something higher on the car's profile would be. In that regard, Snyder's (and perhaps others) carry a cowl light turn signal conversion kit for both 28-29 and 30-31 vehicles. We have three other restored Model A's, and as time and resources permit, it is my plan to add this feature to those cars as well. Good luck whatever route you decide to take.