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Lucas - Prince of Darkness
https://ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=7570		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Anto [ Thu May 26, 2005 1:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Lucas - Prince of Darkness
Hi Everyone,

Just fitted a set of Halogen front headlights not long ago, they are quite good (considering I still run a generator). Problem is, some prankster at the assembly line fitted my car with lucas electrics....

You know those three-way splitter things in the wiring for the headlights - where the feed wire goes in and two wires go out, one for each headlight (and you have two of them for high and low beam)? Well they're giving me crap, at the moment only one headlight works, and you get interesting things happen when you wiggle them. What can I replace them with? I don't want to twist all the wire together and wrap it in tape,, like usual! You can get spade connector splitters but I'm not sure if they are good enough. Any thoughts?

I also managed to get my numberplate light working after only four years of owning the car. Pretty happy with that :D

Anto
Author:  Soc [ Thu May 26, 2005 2:17 pm ]
Post subject: 
Come around, and we can solder them together, and wrap it in heatshrink!


Much nicer.
Author:  Anto [ Thu May 26, 2005 2:22 pm ]
Post subject: 
Yeah that's what Warren said, but I have melted through the power cable on my soldering iron :oops: C'mon think about it, you have to solder the power wires on your soldering iron, you don't go get ANOTHER soldering iron to do it.... :lol:

Sounds like a plan though, that'll fix it!
Author:  simon k [ Thu May 26, 2005 2:35 pm ]
Post subject: 
Soc wrote:
Come around, and we can solder them together, and wrap it in heatshrink!


Much nicer.


don't do that, cos when you have to take it apart you'll have to cut the wires - yukko..... if you're talking about the red things, after 40 years they do get a bit crusty inside, take it off and clean it, clean the plug in bits too and it'll come good..
Author:  Anto [ Thu May 26, 2005 2:43 pm ]
Post subject: 
I found some new red things (I assure you the current ones are no longer red!!), off another wiring loom. I was going to try swapping them but I cant get the old wires out, they are stubborn bastards....

Oh and on the topic of the numberplate light, I have decided that Lucas need to be congratulated for managing to make their electricals out of non conductive metal! What a great idea, it wont short that way :wink:

Seriously, some of my spare numberplate light bases were so bad that no matter how much sanding etc of the contacts I did, they still wouldn't conduct. Annoying. And that is an understatement.
Author:  1310/71 [ Thu May 26, 2005 5:10 pm ]
Post subject: 
skssgn wrote:
Soc wrote:
Come around, and we can solder them together, and wrap it in heatshrink!


Much nicer.


don't do that, cos when you have to take it apart you'll have to cut the wires - yukko..... if you're talking about the red things, after 40 years they do get a bit crusty inside, take it off and clean it, clean the plug in bits too and it'll come good..


Also not recommended I thought coz they crack with vibration and break, then you're left on the side of the road with no lights and presumably no car battery powered soldering iron!
If an electrical connector breaks you have more chance of finding some way of repairing it.
Author:  Gordo [ Thu May 26, 2005 5:59 pm ]
Post subject: 
Anto mate what sort of lights did you replace the old ones with, i am going to upgrade mine soon and im looking for options, and as far as the lucas electrics goes, im replacing the lot of it in my van...
Cheers
Daniel
Author:  drmini in aust [ Thu May 26, 2005 7:53 pm ]
Post subject: 
I bought some neat solder/heatshrink joiners at Bias Boating warehouse.
p/no is S253 (3mm) or S254 (4-5mm). $7.90 for a pack of 4.

Apply heat, solder runs thru wires, then the heatshrink seals it at the ends. I'm using marine grade tinned cable too. No more Lucas automatic dimming headlights! 8)
Author:  Mike [ Thu May 26, 2005 8:44 pm ]
Post subject: 
skssgn wrote:
Soc wrote:
Come around, and we can solder them together, and wrap it in heatshrink!


Much nicer.


don't do that, cos when you have to take it apart you'll have to cut the wires - yukko..... if you're talking about the red things, after 40 years they do get a bit crusty inside, take it off and clean it, clean the plug in bits too and it'll come good..


Everyone says that, but when's the last time anyone had to actualy take that wire out? Even if its absolutely essential to remove it - well then just resolder it and go for another 3 decades.
Author:  drmini in aust [ Thu May 26, 2005 8:50 pm ]
Post subject: 
What he said..^^
These heatshrink connectors I'm using are designed for salt water, and boats. Heaps more vibration than yer Mini.. I've upsized the wiring a little too, over the 1970 originals. Yes the headlamp earths are bigger too. :wink:
Author:  gafmo [ Thu May 26, 2005 10:55 pm ]
Post subject: 
I'v pulled out the complete front Loom....I have not found any cracking in any of the loom at this stage and I'v givinen a Good clean down and inspection.
I'm extending many wires with the belovered Heat Shring and upgrading others :wink:
Author:  bnicho [ Fri May 27, 2005 8:25 am ]
Post subject: 
It seems everyone is working on wiring!

I replaced the Lucas two fuse box in the Moke with an eight fuse one last weekend. I also installed relays in low and high beam circuits and upgraged the wires from the relays to the lights. I removed those connectors completely and soldered the wires together followed by heat-shrink.

BTW: I have a small soldering iron powered by lighter gas, so I CAN do roadside repairs. :)
Author:  min13k [ Fri May 27, 2005 8:40 am ]
Post subject: 
portasol rocks
makka
Author:  Metalfab_101 [ Fri May 27, 2005 8:49 am ]
Post subject: 
drmini in aust wrote:
I bought some neat solder/heatshrink joiners at Bias Boating warehouse.
p/no is S253 (3mm) or S254 (4-5mm). $7.90 for a pack of 4.

Apply heat, solder runs thru wires, then the heatshrink seals it at the ends. I'm using marine grade tinned cable too. No more Lucas automatic dimming headlights! 8)


These things are cool! But kinda pricey to use all the time. One big advantage they have is they waterproof the connection. I've used 'em on my 4x4 with good results (more vibration & corrosive condition than a Mini will ever see!!!).
Author:  Anto [ Fri May 27, 2005 9:52 am ]
Post subject: 
Gordo wrote:
Anto mate what sort of lights did you replace the old ones with, i am going to upgrade mine soon and im looking for options, and as far as the lucas electrics goes, im replacing the lot of it in my van...
Cheers
Daniel


I replaced mine with a couple of freebie halogen lights. One is a semi-sealed beam with a halogen H4 in it, and the other is a sealed beam halogen, a similar power to the H4 but sealed. Haven't seen another one like it! Both are Koito brand (I think supplied by Bosch, ala Autobarn etc).

I have another odd sort of question. Can a headlight half blow?? The problem I'm having is only one light turns on with low beam (high beam fine), but when I wiggle the wires, both lights turn on, but very dim. Could the light just be blown? Because I replaced the connector in question and I'm fairly sure power is getting to that light, but I wouldn't have thought it would light up dim if it was blown, so now I'm confused :?
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