VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 38 Master Headlight Assembly

Yesterday I decided to do some comparison of headlight bulb types. When I went to change the bulb, I found it a bit awkward to install a new bulb. The three retainers stick out from the reflector about 3/8" and the three springs are installed on the front face of the reflector. I have a couple of 1939 reflectors and the retainer pins are right against the reflector front and the springs are on the back side.

I think my headlight has been reassembled incorrectly by a previous owner. Am I correct?

I believe my headlights are assembled incorrectly. I was reluctant to attempt to fix them for fear of breaking the socket or one of the little retainers. I have now found a store called American Antique Auto Parts which sells the sockets, the reflector retainers and all the springs involved. So I guess I will correct the problem this winter. The mounting of my bulbs has them displaced more than 1/4" out from the focal point of the reflector. That can't be good.

If I get a chance I'll pull a lens on mine and take a picture of the socket from the reflector side. It's been so long since I've had mine apart I don't remember where the springs go. The flange on the bulb should rest against the reflector.

Tiny,
thanks. Your last statement nails the nature of my problem. In order for the flange to be against the reflector, the springs must be on the back side. By the way I used your suggestion for lens seals and that is much better than the old cork!

The problem with the springs being on the backside is the mechanism that allows the three "studs" to hold the bulb in place. It requires that the studs must be somewhat proud of the reflector in order to be able to pull the bulb against the reflector to hold it in place. Slipping the bulb behind those studs requires a spring action that I don't see how it could work if the springs are behind the reflector. Now you have my curiosity up. Now I'm going to have to go pull the lens and see. See how you are, "forcing" me to go to the shop and work on my car.

I am looking forward to your photo of the way it is supposed to be!

You are correct. It looks like it shouldn't be too difficult to fix. As well as posting the pics here I'll email them to you full size so you can zoom in if you need to.

Tiny,
thanks for those very clear photos. It is pretty obvious to me that my assemblies are put together wrong. I wonder what the affect is of having my bulb over 1/4" out in front of where it should be. It has to have compromised the reflector operation.

The bulb with be out of focus. In the correct "place" the bulb is focused in the correct area of the reflector so as to give a solid concentrated beam.

Don't know if this will help with your issues but it will show some of the assembly.

Headlight

Brian

Today I removed the reflector assembly on the driver's side. It turns out that someone mounted the socket on the front of the reflector. I re-installed the socket on the back of the reflector and spliced the wires back together. Wow, what a difference. Now I have a nicely focused beam as illustrated in the manual. Before it was difficult to tell if they were aimed correctly because of the spread of light. Also there is a very distinct difference between high and low beams. Before when driving at night, there was some light reaching the road and some went quite a ways up into the trees! I am going to take it for a test run tonight. I have left the passenger's side as it was so I can compare.