Headlight Beams

[Will N]

I have a situation where when I turn on my headlights to the first click (low beam), one headlight does in fact throw a low beam, but the other headlight throws a high beam. Then when I move the switch to the next click (high beam), the one with the low beam goes to high, and the one with the high beam goes to a low beam.

I tried rotating the the bulb 180 degrees on the one headlight that is backward, but it made no difference. How do these work? When it's on high beam, do both filaments light up, or only the one that is more centered in the bulb?

Should I try reversing the wires coming into the headlight socket?

[Charles Coe]

The lower filament in the bulb is the high beam. Yes, I would reverse the wires on the one which is on high beam at the first click.

[Ca. Kid]

Do you have the reflectors installed correctly? The hole for the bulb isn't in the center.

[Will N]

Yes, just got those new aluminized reflectors that are made to original Ford spec. They are marked showing which side is up, and I was careful to install them correctly.

[Lowell Fast]

Did some early models have a dimmer arrangement where the left light goes out completely??

[700rpm]

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Oops. Deleted my response. I see you tried turning the bulbs around, which is usually the problem. But it does sound like the wiring is switched.

[markyb]

it seems like something wrong other than wiring, if wired wrong, flipping one bulb would correct the issue. hmmm

can you read the bulb, maybe one is different than the other?

[H. L. Chauvin]

Often mentioned on this Forum is to use a welding helmet to observe the filaments in each bulb to see how each upper & lower filament is responding when lights are on bright & dim ..................... and also observe each filament after one or both bulbs are rotated.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Simply switch the high & low wires in ONE side of the radiator shell! Buster T. (& give yo'self a TREAT!)

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by H. L. Chauvin

Often mentioned on this Forum is to use a welding helmet to observe the filaments in each bulb to see how each upper & lower filament is responding when lights are on bright & dim ..................... and also observe each filament after one or both bulbs are rotated.

H.L, I've purchased welding equipment to see if I can still weld??? If my neighbors saw me STARING into the headlights, well, you know, they already think I'm KRAZY. Could an outsider, legally, have me committed to somewhere????? Bill W.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Lowell Fast

Did some early models have a dimmer arrangement where the left light goes out completely??

No.

[Will N]

I did switch the wires, and that worked. What I can't figure out is why didn't just spinning the bulb 180 degrees work.

[Pinstripe]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

H.L, I've purchased welding equipment to see if I can still weld??? If my neighbors saw me STARING into the headlights, well, you know, they already think I'm KRAZY. Could an outsider, legally, have me committed to somewhere????? Bill W.

Buster is the only one legally permitted to have you committed. Think on that the next time you decide the cheap dog food is good enuf. That's all.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Will N

I did switch the wires, and that worked. What I can't figure out is why didn't just spinning the bulb 180 degrees work.

Since the low beam should be a little above the centerline, turning the bulb 180* would put the low beam a little below the centerline, thus making it shine a beam higher than it should.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

Since the low beam should be a little above the centerline, turning the bulb 180* would put the low beam a little below the centerline, thus making it shine a beam higher than it should.

Good explanation, Tom, in the beginning, I, too was wondering why rotating the bulb 180 degrees didn't work. I think "they" call it an optical DELUSION O.K, now back to the welding hood! Bill W.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Pinstripe

Buster is the only one legally permitted to have you committed. Think on that the next time you decide the cheap dog food is good enuf. That's all.

Well, Pinstripe, at $35.00 fur a 15# bag of DOGGIE- HEAVEN, food, I got the Dog on my side. It took a very ornate GOLD ring to get Cindy "in my pocket" & I've got sum "DIRT" on Gregg, so that's handled! Bill W.

[Napa Skip]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

Could an outsider, legally, have me committed to somewhere?

Not a problem, Bill. All "they" need (in California) for a 5150 hold is a completed form MH-302 Application for Involuntary 72-Hour Detention for Evaluation and Treatment. So, if you'll just initial, date and sign the attached MH-303 Involuntary Patient Advisement form in the designated spaces...

Fortunately (and not to make light of the important and valuable mental health care system) 5150 holds are limited to 72 hours and "they" must be a California peace officer or designated county [mental health care] clinician.

So I guess it depends on which of your neighbors saw you staring into your Model A headlights and what they do for a living (and perhaps whether or not they also owned a Model A, in which case they might be more understanding and perhaps even give you a hand with any needed repairs).

But what the heck, if they didn't lock up Earl "Madman" Muntz...

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Napa Skip

Not a problem, Bill.
But what the heck, if they didn't lock up Earl "Madman" Muntz...

Skipper, My Man, I was REALLY KRAZY, back in '59, I almost bought a like new Muntz Jet with a Caddy in it. It was traded in when I worked for the Citroen dealer, here in Fresno. Isn't HINDSITE great! Bill W.