Bulb holder upgrade for 70's Lucas rubbish?

[Erich Stahler]

Has anyone found a more modern bulb holder that will push into the period lights, the Lucas units seem to rely on a springy steel crown that both locates it and forms a very poor earth, there must be something better?

[//j17]

My experience of those holders is that the silver metal makes a perfectly good contact with the light cluster body. The problem is the connection between that silver metal piece and the earth side of the bulb is via a separate yellow metal element. I think every bad earth in the lighting circuit on my Spitfire ended up being traced to corrosion hidden away between the bottom of the silver metal ring and the top face of the yellow metal contact. While carefully teasing the silver ring out and a quick rub with sand paper would get them working for a few more months replacement is a better long term option.

When it comes to replacement you can actually get versions of these holders with a dedicated earth connection in to the bulb holder. I'm not sure where these come from as they were supplied by the company that restored my car - but they are out there!

[Erich Stahler]

//j17 said:

My experience of those holders is that the silver metal makes a perfectly good contact with the light cluster body. The problem is the connection between that silver metal piece and the earth side of the bulb is via a separate yellow metal element. I think every bad earth in the lighting circuit on my Spitfire ended up being traced to corrosion hidden away between the bottom of the silver metal ring and the top face of the yellow metal contact. While carefully teasing the silver ring out and a quick rub with sand paper would get them working for a few more months replacement is a better long term option.

When it comes to replacement you can actually get versions of these holders with a dedicated earth connection in to the bulb holder. I'm not sure where these come from as they were supplied by the company that restored my car - but they are out there!

That's what I mean, the silver part distorts when the bulb is pushed into the light cluster and causes a poor contact with the brass earth contact.

[lowdrag]

A quick google came up with this. Might be worth a call.

http://www.dynamoregulatorconversions.com/online-s...

[//j17]

Actually it sounds like a lot of the replacement ones on the market these days have the additional earth terminal. Someone commented on a Triumph forum that the ones from Rimmer Bros do and looking at http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GRID005819 you can see 2x terminals on the indicator/reversing holders that originally only had the single +vc connection.

[misterp]

Its a simple fix. Simply place a blob of solder between the copper/brass and the nickel plated ring.

You may have to rough up and remove the nickel plating where you solder to using a bit of emery as otherwise the solder may not stick.

The two connector holders are another option, although depending on how many you need to replace, could get costly. Soldering is alot cheaper!