Those big headlights

[Thxcuz]

I see a lot of rats with big motorcycle style headlights. Where are you getting them? How do you power them. It sounds weird but I feel a bike can be super cool but with out a nice headlight it kinda looks empty.
Maybe it's just me

 

[Flying Zombie]

tractor headlights are one of the most common., wiring them to a powersource just takes a little creative ingenuity., couple good nine volts.. in some brightly lit cases Four 9v.

I prefer a header on everything I ride, even if its just tanklights

 

[kingfish254]

In the SHOW ME YOUR sub forum there is a Headlight Taillight Gallery
Also in the HOW TO section there are a few threads on LED-izing or lighting it up with other methods.
Fire truck or police spotlights also make cool big headlights.

 

[texasbigjon]

You can pickup old tractor lights on eBay fairly cheap. Take apart an led flashlight, wire it up with a battery pack and toggle switch and blaze on! I've used old motorcycle running lights and spotlights also.

 

[BARTO]

Just did an LED CO version, it looks and works great. I'mean a out to a rear light using the same conversion in an old 40's car blinker. Pretty easy with door results

 

[edh]

I considered mounting a bracket for a 12 volt 7 ah battery (like in a security system) they are rechargeable and in theory you could wire up a car stereo to it if you really wanted, obviously you could put several in parallel for more power.
I also thought a tank could be good for this as it would give you somewhere to mount a set of (bluetooth) speakers.
I would say that I have never done either, and that as the batteries are relatively heavy the weight would be better lower.

 

[Big Ape]

Go to an automotive swap meet for vintage cars. You should find loads of cool spotlight/headlight assemblies. Then you just fill them with LED lights and power them up! LED's are available most anywhere, tear down a flashlight or search ebay. For 12V power, the small A23 battery is a good choice. ebay also has the wired trays for them, cheap.

 

[metalchewy]

The one I put on my build, I got from rebel56 who got it from another member. 50s and 60s motorcycles had that large headlight in a metal base. When you start getting 70s and up, you will get into plastics, fiberglass and then composites...

One of many options ive done for lighting, I cut the back out of a sealed beam headlight and jb welded a 1057 automotive light socket ring into it, and went and picked up a couple super bright led 1057 bulbs. They can be powered with 10 hearing aid batteries, or 4 2032 wafers, or 8 aaa. Just gotta get to 12 volts. The batteries fit within the headlight housing. Leds use so little power they last awhile..

I have also added containers to hold the larger celled batteries before, back before LEDs gave us so many more options...

 

[Big Ape]

CeeBee, that spotlight looks huge man! And, that frame and tank off to the right looks cool!!!

 

[Duchess]

My grandfather knew a guy in World War 2 who shipped home a spotlight from a Japanese battleship, communication shutters and all. Would take some custom work, but it could probably be made to work on a bike, right?

 

[old_goat]

wanna get really really really cool???
Get one of those carbide bicycle lamp..

 

[Thxcuz]

thanks folks, I'll keep an eye out for a tractor light on ebay. I've done the led flashlight trick before so I'm good there. I have a $20 Chinese led light on my motorized bike tight now, it's hella bright but it looks too modern. I don't want to chop it up because I like to be able to put it on my road bike if I ever ride that at night. I guess I could get another one and chop that up...hmmm

 

[old_goat]

thanks folks, I'll keep an eye out for a tractor light on ebay. I've done the led flashlight trick before so I'm good there. I have a $20 Chinese led light on my motorized bike tight now, it's hella bright but it looks too modern. I don't want to chop it up because I like to be able to put it on my road bike if I ever ride that at night. I guess I could get another one and chop that up...hmmm

I remember those lights on my old Farmall tractor.. they're 6 volts.. just merely a single bulb screwed in behind the glass len.. somewhat it may be hard to find.. they're about 4-1/2" diameter, tear drop shape, and got some heft.. due to abuse being used on tractor, it must withstand some bashing out in the field

 

[Thxcuz]

I am currently the high bidder on this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121732138704?_trksid=p2055359.m1431.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

I can do 6 volts with 4 aa batteries.

 

[old_goat]

I am currently the high bidder on this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121732138704?_trksid=p2055359.m1431.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

I can do 6 volts with 4 aa batteries.

Wow.. they looks better than the ones I used to have..
the ones I used to have, were rusting, cracked or chipped lens, yellowing of reflector, one had corroded bulb socket, even some dent from falling objects..
Damn, I miss those Farmall 'H' .. they were good tractors, had to sell them due to divorce and moving into city

 

[Thxcuz]

Cool. I won it. I may have to paint my bike red to match the light

 

[old_goat]

Cool. I won it. I may have to paint my bike red to match the light

awesome

 

[Thxcuz]

I got it today. I hooked 6v up to it and it was dim. A 9v made it brighter. Could it be a 12v tractor headlight?

 

[metalchewy]

I got it today. I hooked 6v up to it and it was dim. A 9v made it brighter. Could it be a 12v tractor headlight?

Depends on the year of tractor the light is for, and the voltage bulb in the case. Sounds like its a 12volt bulb, should be easy enuff to put a six volt bulb in its place..

Building... riding...

 

[old_goat]

I got it today. I hooked 6v up to it and it was dim. A 9v made it brighter. Could it be a 12v tractor headlight?

yup, may have to pull the bulb and see... many of those old Farmall has been change over from 6 volts positive to 12 volts negative ground.. I did one of mine that way