Headlight rebuild

kartgreen · Post by **kartgreen** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 4:54 am

NIce bike , hope you enjoy it . I did a similar modification to one of my headlights and still have it in one of my bikes . Not the brightest at night so hopefully you don't plan on any nighttime rides . It will get you by if your ever stopped for an inspection though . Welcome to the group .

Larzfromarz · Post by **Larzfromarz** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 4:59 am

I'd suspect he's ok, just using an incandescent bulb. As you know the Halogens get much hotter.

Martskin · Post by **Martskin** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 9:07 am

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I hadn't considered the plastic tie melting. I'll keep an eye on it and see what happens. I guess worst case is the ties melt and the bulb comes loose. It doesn't have too far to fall in the headlight assembly. I have no idea if this bulb was designed for high and low beam but it seems to work.

edcphoto · Post by **edcphoto** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:46 am

Any suggestions on a headlight that has the reflective coating rusted? Would like to do this conversion but don't think the light would function very well without the reflective coating. I managed to pull off the lens so I could conceivably have it re-chromed if that is possible and not prohibitively expensive. Hard to find these lights on ebay other than the Taiwan jobs. An original burned out would be fine as long as it had the reflective coating intact so if any one has one please let me know.

edcphoto · Post by **edcphoto** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 10:03 pm

Yeah actually that's what I have done but the can of chrome spray paint I bought was far from chrome so I either need to find spray paint that really is chrome or have it re-plated but it is pretty pitted so not sure if it can be done. Hoping to find another headlight with good chrome that's not too expensive. There's been one on eBay for a while at $160 but not willing to spend that much .

comp_wiz101 · Post by **comp_wiz101** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 6:25 pm

edcphoto wrote:Yeah actually that's what I have done but the can of chrome spray paint I bought was far from chrome so I either need to find spray paint that really is chrome or have it re-plated but it is pretty pitted so not sure if it can be done. Hoping to find another headlight with good chrome that's not too expensive. There's been one on eBay for a while at $160 but not willing to spend that much .

I have an old Renault 5 hatchback, and the headlight reflectors in it are just shiny paint - from the factory. It may not be as mirror-bright, but a gloss chrome paint might be the way to go.

1911tex · Post by **1911tex** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 5:51 am

Shiny side of aluminum foil using spray adhesive has been super effective in an old auto resto I did 15 years ago and the headlights still look great. Be sure and dont wrinkle the foil....buy maybe that will enhance the reflection! Better than paint and no cost.

edcphoto · Post by **edcphoto** » Fri Sep 21, 2012 5:46 pm

1911tex, what spray adhesive did you use, is there any concern with the heat affecting the adhesive?

1911tex · Post by **1911tex** » Fri Sep 21, 2012 8:30 pm

edcphoto: 3M contact adhesive, aerosol. Messy stuff, but works well and heat from lamp has no effect. Pretty common in older non-sealed beams when the original silver ebbs away. not a proper resto, but a quick remedy and no one sees it but you....but still knaws at your guilt for not doing it properly...or just buying a new headlight bucket.

Martskin · Post by **Martskin** » Mon Apr 08, 2013 8:07 am

I couldn't remember if I ever posted pics of our Benly with the new seat, new tires and blacked out pipes. So here it is!

Smithers · Post by **Smithers** » Mon Apr 08, 2013 9:31 am

That looks great! I was trying to figure out what made it look so different. I was thinking wow those tires are black.. then I looked at the exhaust.

Cool!

Larzfromarz · Post by **Larzfromarz** » Mon Apr 08, 2013 9:32 am

The white piping is nice 'pop'. The blackout isn't a bad alternative to rechroming as well.
Looks like you are out enjoying it and that's what counts! Nice...

Martskin · Post by **Martskin** » Mon Apr 08, 2013 10:43 am

Thanks! Yeah a couple cans of PJ1 was a heck of a lot cheaper than rechroming. The clutch needs some work but otherwise running great.

http://www.cheapcycleparts.com/products/62103

kartgreen · Post by **kartgreen** » Tue Apr 09, 2013 8:28 am

Good lookin bike ! How much water did you have to use to grow those pipes ?

Martskin · Post by **Martskin** » Tue Apr 09, 2013 2:00 pm

A lot. It was exhausting. :X