Julian Thompson Posted July 11, 2002 Share Posted July 11, 2002 Having spent a while fitting nice side repeaters in my headlamps during the build of my car I'm informed that the cups that support the lights are the wrong size (!?) and that the round ball bit of the lamp is crushed because of this. I can't see this and see it as a production std item, the problem occuring due to me tightening the lamps too much - but I had to, becasue they were twisting all over the place! Anyway, in addition, the little "spot welded" tin tags that supposedly retain the threaded bolt from twisting are not sufficient on my car - they twist out of the recesses and the whole thing spins. Nasty. Anyone fitted the smaller, James whiting lamps care to comment on how the threads are retained on those, or how they have overcome this problem, or if I do actually have faulty ones, as suggested by John Noble Motorsport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Thompson Posted July 11, 2002 Author Share Posted July 11, 2002 Can I rephrase this to get a response? "Has anyone else had problems with adjusting and tightening their headlamps, and are any of the other brands of lamp any different.....?" (!) smile.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Thompson Posted July 12, 2002 Author Share Posted July 12, 2002 I'll assume from the slightly underwhelming response that nobody has had any problems and that maybe mine are indeed faulty as suggested! Or, of course, that headlamps are so very boring that nobody is reading this. Which is nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Durrant Posted July 12, 2002 Share Posted July 12, 2002 Julian I have just fitted the 5 inch headlights from James Whiting with no problems apart from the wiring being a little shorter making it a little more awkward to connect. From memory, they have a piece if metal inside the headlight bowl that engages on the the fixing bolt, similar to the originals and the headlights tightened up without difficulty. I personnely prefer the look of the smaller lights. Hope this helps. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashaughnessy Posted July 12, 2002 Share Posted July 12, 2002 In a bit of a hurry aren't we? Personally I didn't respond because a) I've only just seen this posting and b) I didn't know there were more than one type of headlamp. I'm trying for "Most useless reply of the day" Anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fake7smith Posted July 12, 2002 Share Posted July 12, 2002 You could try thinking laterally www.wscc.co.uk www.w***field-sportscars.co.uk for 6", 7" and I think 5" chromed / black lamps - no gold plating though - sorry ;-) Traitor with a W******D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V7 SLR Posted July 12, 2002 Share Posted July 12, 2002 Julian, I think the fact that you posted a Tech at night says it all... no-one reads them outside of company time. teeth.gif I have normal headlamps and apart from the powder coating having come off the ball & socket, they're OK. Worcs L7 club joint AO Membership No.id=red> 4379id=green> Azure Blue SLR No. 0077id=blue> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyR Posted July 12, 2002 Share Posted July 12, 2002 Jue, You have urgent mail. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Thompson Posted July 12, 2002 Author Share Posted July 12, 2002 Thanks guys - sorry to be impatient! I've tried and tried to get hold of James Whiting but nobody ever bothers to ring me back (sorry but true) - but...... Caterham have advised me that they have indeed has a bad batch of bowls recently which exhibit the symptoms mine has of the bit of tin twisting when you tighten the lamp. I suspect Tony is about to tell me that my car will flop its SVA with the nice little side repeaters it now has so it's a good job Caterham look like they'll replace them for me! Over to Tony...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyR Posted July 12, 2002 Share Posted July 12, 2002 I had a telephone discussion the SVA centre at Derby to arrange my test date. The guy I spoke to was very helpful but did say NO to having the repeaters in the headlamps. I was intending to fit these next week and Jue has them fitted and is awaiting the SVA test. I mentioned I had seen this done on a number of Caterhams, his reply was that they must have been fitted after the SVA. Anyone know different? TonyR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Thompson Posted July 13, 2002 Author Share Posted July 13, 2002 Pretty sure Count has them fitted and no probs on SVA - perhaps he'll clarify. Certainly it's a bugger as Derby is "my" SVA location too! Although it's irrelevant, I wonder WHY they don't like the idea? They car be seen very, very well and are at a better, more "normal" height than the cycle wing ones. They flash, just like cycle wing ones. They are indeed orange, just like cycle wing ones........um..... SVA = arse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted July 13, 2002 Share Posted July 13, 2002 my guess would be it is a measurement thing, lights have various distances to comply with, indicators in the middle of headlights would be daft (just to illustrate) , so there's probably a minimum distance for indicator from main/white/beam lights edge or centre. belay that: it'll be the required distance from the edge of the vehicle being insufficient - long term memory at work here. (again in extremis to illustrate: indicators in the middle of the vehicle would be silly, so there's a limit related to the distance to the edge of the car). Tuppence please. Anthony E536 JFH - Cosworth 1700 BDR - mobile 07970 719644 Edited by - anthonym on 13 Jul 2002 09:16:23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Thompson Posted July 13, 2002 Author Share Posted July 13, 2002 can't think why the repeaters should be an issue. Seems totally bloody daft to me. I might just not bother with the ****ing SVA and run the car permanantly on trade plates as a protest, Tossers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Thompson Posted July 13, 2002 Share Posted July 13, 2002 Gillingham passed my car with the small headlights and the indicator repeaters in them in April so ask the guy in derby to talk to Mr Telchadder for clarification. The repeaters are Fiat ones and E coded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Thompson Posted July 13, 2002 Author Share Posted July 13, 2002 Thanks Paul - anyone else get them through? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mav Posted July 14, 2002 Share Posted July 14, 2002 not wishing to cast dispersions on the quality of the SVA performed Gillingham (my Factory build was done there), Caterham send an awful lot of cars there, so the inspector I would lthink would be a little less shall we say demanding on some of the finer pointsquestion.gif My local Tiger dealer is haveing all sorts of problems with one guy in Liverpool, but took the same car to manchester and had to make only 1 quick fix. Depends where you take it and how zelous the examinier is I suppose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wag Posted July 14, 2002 Share Posted July 14, 2002 The metal tags on my headlamps do just as Julian says. Superlight built about a year ago. The problem came to light when I put a bit of waxoyl in there, after an earlier thread about corrosion. You can grip the nut in the headlamp bowl with long nosed pliers but aligning it is more difficult with the light unit not in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Thompson Posted July 14, 2002 Author Share Posted July 14, 2002 Glad someone else noticed this. Anyone seen inside a Westfield or James Whiting headlamp? Any better? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted July 14, 2002 Share Posted July 14, 2002 I've never heard of a Westfield suffering this problemtongue.gif I thought James W and Westfield both used the headlamps from Anthony Stafford Vehicle Components (01827 67714). My Y2K catalogue has the 5 and three quarter inch halogen headlights, in chrome or black, at £90 per pair, plus £7 p&p, VAT included......... Edited by - Blatman on 14 Jul 2002 21:20:19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Thompson Posted July 14, 2002 Author Share Posted July 14, 2002 Thanks Blatman - how are the metal threads retained inside a Westy lamp then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted July 15, 2002 Share Posted July 15, 2002 No idea. Never had one fail in a way that would have me inspecting how the threads were attached............ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Ashurst 63 Posted July 16, 2002 Share Posted July 16, 2002 I fitted the James Whiting lights last week after forgetting to put tape on the lenses for a track day the previous week ( slowed the EVO VI on slicks down a bit !) Went on no problem , look great and must be more aerodynamic ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Thompson Posted July 16, 2002 Author Share Posted July 16, 2002 On the JW lamps, do they still have the little metal tags inside that stop the thread rotating? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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