installing new headlight bucket wires

[FrankWest]

Installing new headlight bucket wires/harness on a 1933. The rear socket contacts are hollow buttons where the each of 3 wires are inserted. Is there a special crimping tool used for attachment of the wire? I don't see any soldering on the originals, so assume it is just crimped.

[deuce lover]

I believe what you are referring to are called bullet connectors if they are the original style.There should be a male end on the other wire and it just pops in.

[FrankWest]

Originally Posted by deuce lover

I believe what you are referring to are called bullet connectors if they are the original style.There should be a male end on the other wire and it just pops in.

No. although bullet connectors are used on the actuals headlight wires to light harness connection. I am asking about the actual wire connection into the headlight bulb socket itself. This is how the wire is connected to the contact inside the socket itself.

[deuce lover]

Do you have the original sockets and wiring ? The originals have a wire fed thru the hole at base of socket.At the bulb end there is a contact at the end (I believe were crimped)of each wire with a spring under it.That contact is difficult to find.What I have done is take the original and solder it to a new wire.Feed it thru the hole with the spring under it. Do that with each one.Make sure the wires are long enough to reach the loom by the horn.Use spade or bullet connectors at that end so can be easily plugged in or removed.I also soldered a separate wire to the reflector and run it to the frame for a guaranteed ground. I have tried using reproduction sockets but they are junk.The bulb does not fit tight and as it wiggles then shorts out.Hope this helps.

[petehoovie]

I had to do this last month on my '34. I was not able to find repo wires with sockets so I had to use the original sockets. I cut the wires so the original sockets had about a 4 inch tail. I then soldered bullet connectors to the these tails and to the tails of the repo wires I ordered. I used female sleeves to connect the bullet ends. All of this was done inside the the headlight bucket....

[Ralph Moore]

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Same here, only I soldered them and heat shrinked the joint and the old wire. The insulation was brittle, but the wire was good. All this was inside the bucket, so it didn't show.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Ralph Moore

Same here, only I soldered them and heat shrinked the joint and the old wire. The insulation was brittle, but the wire was good. All this was inside the bucket, so it didn't show.

Yeah, Ralph, I put heat shrink over the tails from the sockets because the original insulation was brittle....

[MGG]

Originally Posted by deuce lover

Do you have the original sockets and wiring ? The originals have a wire fed thru the hole at base of socket.At the bulb end there is a contact at the end (I believe were crimped)of each wire with a spring under it.That contact is difficult to find.What I have done is take the original and solder it to a new wire.Feed it thru the hole with the spring under it. Do that with each one.Make sure the wires are long enough to reach the loom by the horn.Use spade or bullet connectors at that end so can be easily plugged in or removed.I also soldered a separate wire to the reflector and run it to the frame for a guaranteed ground. I have tried using reproduction sockets but they are junk.The bulb does not fit tight and as it wiggles then shorts out.Hope this helps.

I obtained the contacts that are inside the sockets (I call them buttons) from Sacramento Vintage Ford and soldered them onto the end of new wires. As quoted above I soldered bullet connectors onto he other ends. The new sockets I agree are junk so I used the originals. MGG 1934 BB Truck

[FrankWest]

Originally Posted by MGG

I obtained the contacts that are inside the sockets (I call them buttons) from Sacramento Vintage Ford and soldered them onto the end of new wires. As quoted above I soldered bullet connectors onto he other ends. The new sockets I agree are junk so I used the originals. MGG 1934 BB Truck

Thanks