Headlights and Wiring

Route 6x6 Discussion Board: Restoration of older ATV's: Headlights and Wiring
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By badtnt on Unrecorded Date: Edit

(72 Attex Colt 252) OK heres the problem ignition switch is bad lights position not working. I pulled the wires needed off of the switch and ran them to a toggle switch. Started up engine and found that I could get only one headlight to be lit at a time. Otherwise when they were both plugged in the headlamps were so dim you could only see the filament. Question is did I wire this right? or Do halogen lights not work on this type of system? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks, Bruce Daczyk

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By liflod (Liflod) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

The charging system is not enough to drive your halogen lights. The factory lights are only 15 watts each and your charging system is only adequate for that load. The specs for my 440 is 75 watts and I know the single cylinder models is alot less. I think your's is only capable of only 40 watts or so.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By badtnt on Unrecorded Date: Edit

What headlights will work? I looked at wattage on both halogen(35 Watt) and incandescent(55 Watt) and thought the halogens would be a better light because they drew less wattage.

Thanks, Bruce

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Attex Bob on Unrecorded Date: Edit

It sounds like you have the lights wired in series to me. Check to make sure they are wired in parallel and not in series. If they are wired properly the 35 watt lights will work fine. Good luck Bruce.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By kush on Unrecorded Date: Edit

From a 1972 Attex owners manual. "DO NOT USE AN AUTOMOTIVE SEAL BEAM. USE ONLY AN ATTEX SEAL BEAM OR ITS EQUAL IN REPLACEMENT (18 WATT).

Their caps not mine. My ATTEX 295 has a 12v 18 watt model #4439. The only markings on the front are TS.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By George on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Anyone have a source for 18 watt sealed beams for my Attex? I need about 5 headlights

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By bigkodiak on Unrecorded Date: Edit

George
Check out Tractor supply. They generally have what you will need.
http://www.mytscstore.com/

Russ

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By George on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Russ,

Thanks. Will do.

George

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Howard Hoover on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I found a CarQuest here in Indpls. to be the
cheapest source for headlights for my max I don't know if they are the same as Attex or not and you might not even have a CarQuest in your area but
NAPA also has them a little higher though.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Eugene Kochnieff on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hi All,

You can use 50mm or 2 inch 12v 20watt dichroic lamps as used in store lighting displays, I would use one 20 degree spot for distance and one 38 degree wide for flood. these are cheap available just about anywhere and once your machine is converted you will never be out of lights. These lamps are also available in 35 and 50 watt versions suitable for more the powerful electrical systems on modern aatvs.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By George on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I guess the bigest concern is the drain on the battery and whether the charging system can handle the replacement lights. I'm running with the original Jlo engine and charging system. I see the old lights as marked 18 watts. I'd be fine with putting higher watt bulbs in as replacements if I knew they would not draw power faster then the system can charge the battery. Any thoughts?

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By liflod (Liflod) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I ended up using automotive twin beam lights on my Attex. I found them on clearance for 2$ each and decided I should try them. One way of knowing if your system has enough output to run them is start the engine and pull the fuse located near the starter solenoid. If the headlights burn bright without the battery, you have enough output to run them and charge the battery. I think mine draw less than 4 amps and I have a 75 watt charging system. 12V X 4 amps = 48 watts. What engine are you running ?

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By david berger (Davidrrrd) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I USED THE CAR HEADLIGHTS IN MY ATTEXES, ID RUN BATERY DOWN ABOUT 10 OCLOCK AT NIGHT, TIME TO GO HOME ANYHOOT

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By George on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Lifold,

I'm running with the JLO 400 (399cc twin). I was thinking of car lights bot thought that it might strain the system. Now I'm beginning to wonder. Were you able to fit the replacement lights in the original gromit and hole or were modifications necessary?

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By David Keeso (Argomag) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

What replacement lights would an ARGO MAgnum use?

I had one a long time ago that went out after dad hit a tree while trying to tip it over and then it worked again. They are getting dimmer each time I use them. They have not been replaced yet and they likely will soon. Just don't know what to replace them with. They are the rectangular shaped ones if that helps.

Thanks

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By liflod (Liflod) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Well now that you bring up the subject, one of the headlights stays in just fine while the other one seems to bounce out farily often. I have not investigated it in any detail, but I'm thinking of using winshield tape around the rubber ring so the healight will stick in there better. They appear to be the same size as the original.

I was having some charging problems with my 440 and started to tinker with it. I finally had the system working and I was checking the output voltage with the headlights on. As I revved the engine , I noticed the voltage rising and the headlights getting brighter. Once the output voltage hit about 18volts, the orignal headlights burned out!!!

I was using a bridge rectifier on the output and no battery to filter the output. Which is something that is pointed out in the service manual. If you are not using a battery and your charging system will put out more power than you are using, you need to put ressitors in the system to avoid burning out the headlights. With a battery in the system , the battery filters and regulates the electrical system.


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