Origional T-3 headlights? Use??

[William B.]

I bought about 110 origional T-3 headlights. In going through the boxes and testing them more than half started smoking inside and burned out shortly. I guess all I can do with the bad ones is throw them out. My question is the good ones I have are mostly 60 to 67 style, if I install them on a car for judging will they burn out shortly or are they actually reliable. I am thinking it is safer to use the repos and take the points hit. Any ideas??

[Michael H.]

Re: Origional T-3 headlights? Use??

Bill,

The problem that you describe is common. The cause, so I'm told, is air that eventually seeps into the lamp over time and causes the filiment to burn almost immediately. When new, the chamber is under vacuum and as long as there is a minimum of air inside, the filiment will last for decades. Problem is, many of these bulbs were probably ok when the car was originally parked or scrapped and then another ten or twenty years passed before the lamp was plugged in again. Most likely, the pressure equalized and caused the burn.

Guessing, I would think that if some test ok, they will most likely work for several more years, although I suppose there really is no guarantee. Plug in a few of them and allow them to run for a while and see what happens.

[Gerard F.]

Re: Origional T-3 headlights? Use??

I went through judging with the repro's from LL on a 67. Got full credit but maybe they missed it.

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179

[Kevin M.]

Re: Origional T-3 headlights? Use??

I have junk yard specials on my 67 they have lasted 3 years so far. I read that applying silicone to the rear over the old glue will sometimes improve there life.

Kevin

[Jon S.]

Re: Origional T-3 headlights? Use??

I was always told to store them indoors rather than in a garage or basement. Anything to that? Regards, Jon

[Gerard F.]

Re: Origional T-3 headlights? Use??

But if you are going to drive to an event, the repros are the safest. The T-3's get a different illumination factor as they get older. and are probably unreliable when you need them the most. You might as well just bag and tag them, and use the repro's for reliablity. If you are going to trailer it to an event then keep the originals, and then don't drive it. The point deduct is a maximum 15, 3 points per bulb.

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179

[Scott Butville]

Re: Origional T-3 headlights? Use??

Page 22 of the Judging Reference Manual calls out a standard deduction of three points per car for a full set of detectable repros w/ "DOT" marking.

[Gene B.]

Re: Origional T-3 headlights? Use??

When looking at the bulb, a good reference to turn the bulb and look at it with the top on the bottom. Most of the time a bulb will give you some indication that it is starting to burn out when viewing it this way. If the bulb appears dark when viewed in the upside down position, it tells you that the bulb has done some smoking already, albeit maybe slightly. If the mirrored finish is clear, then the bulb has not started smoking at all. Generally the bulb which burn out first are the low beam bulbs, (3 prongs on the back of the bulb) since they would be on more than the high beam (2 prongs on the back of the bulb).

I have some original T-3 bulbs on my 58 which I have had for 11-12 years and have had only one burn out in that period of time. ANd that one just started to smoke/discolor ont he top. It still works but not as nice as a clear one.

Hope this helps

Gene

[Gerard F.]

Re: Origional T-3 headlights? Use??

Scott,

The set of repros I got from Lectric Ltd for my 67 don't have the DOT markings.
I just compared them to the 1 original I had left and I can't tell the difference. I guess that's why I go full credit for them.

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179

[Scott Butville]

Re: Origional T-3 headlights? Use??

The purpose of my post was to clarify the deduction, but I was not aware that it was legal to make headlights w/out the "DOT", repros or not. The "DOT" on my repros is VERY hard to see. The letters are about 3/32" square and arranged vertically in the upper LH corner looking from the front. I don't know who made them since they were on the car when I bought it.

[Gerard F.]

You're right Scott

I took another look at mine, and sure enough they do have DOT vertically in the lower left quarter. It is so faint and small that it could easily be missed. You really have to be looking for it. I wonder if this is the same DOT that the Judging Manual talks about.

Jerry Fuccillo

[mike mccagh]

Re: Origional T-3 headlights? Use??

Lectric limited had the t-3's repo'd about 8 years ago. they are the ones with DOT at 7 oclock. mike

[John H.]

Re: Origional T-3 headlights? Use??

The LL repros are manufactured by Wagner Electric.

[Joe R.]

Re: Origional T-3 headlights? Use??

Hi Bill:

I recall reading a discussion about this during a search of the archives about a year ago.

One poster described a procedure that he uses to "bring back" old bulbs that have been sitting a long time. He said the key is to avoid just applying 12 volts right away, since it typically results in the failure mode you describe.

I can not quite remember what his process was, but it may have involved baking the bulb in an oven to drive out moisture, or perhaps some scheme where power to the bulb is applied gradually.

In any event, you have such a large number of old bulbs that it might be worth searching the archives for that thread.

[William B.]

Re: Origional T-3 headlights? Use??

Thanks Joe for your sugestion. I have already gone through the bulbs. I had 67 smoke or burn out and about 50 are still in working order. I am dissapointed I thought I'd have a lot more good ones. Now I have 67 T 3 bulbs that I am having a hard time just putting them in the trash.