Burning T-3's

[Steve M.]

I am trying to put some finishing touches on the 67 before the Heartland Regional in a couple of weeks and for some reason, maybe bad luck, the low/high bulb on the drivers side keeps burning out. I have all new harnesses and so far in the past couple of weeks I have gone through 2 original T-3s and one Lectric Limited repop. All of the other lights work and the bulbs that burn out work on high beam. Is this just a case of bad luck with some old bulbs and a repop or has anyone else had this problem and found a solution. I must say it makes me a little nervous about the operations test. They seem to work about 3 or 4 times when I check them and then gone!! Any ideas to check? Thanks

[Bill I.]

Re: Burning T-3's

When you changed them, did you check to see if they are really burned out? Think you can see where I'm going here, bad or loose connection. ill

[Stephen L.]

Re: Burning T-3's

It appears to be a stroke of bad luck to me. The voltage can't be excessive (due to an improperly set regulator) because then other lights would also burnout.
Do you possibly have a faulty/intermittent connection at that location or a broken wire in the harness that causes the light to stop working? I assume you checked the "burned" lights to make sure they are indeed burned out on the low beam and you don't have a faulty harness?

[Steve M.]

Re: Burning T-3's

Thanks, I did check to make sure they were burned out and that the connections are good.

[Bill I.]

Re: Burning T-3's

Steve, guess you have to chalk it up to old age and cheap China crap. Bill

[Harmon C.]

Re: Burning T-3's

When bulbs smoke and burn they turn white or test them. Any bulb that has been droped in shiping may burn out when installed. I had a case of bulbs fall about two feet and most of them smoked and burned.

[Alan D.]

Re: Burning T-3's

I believe as the bulb ages the seals around the connection tabs begin to deteriorate. This allows oxygen to enter into the lamp causing the element to burn out. Anytime I buy a lamp I seal around the connection tabs with silicon sealer. This will help prevent future deterioration of the seal and create an additional seal. It seams to work for me.
Al Dieterle

[Steve M.]

Re: Burning T-3's

Good suggestion Alan, thanks.