Headlight adjustment problems

[PaulProe]

Jim
You don't say what style the lamps are. Are they standard sealed beam, 7" bulbs? Lucas PL700 bulbs? Other?

If it is a sealed beam, they are always aimed on the low beam, projecting onto a screen at 25' so the upper edge is the same height as the center of the lamp on the car. The left edge of the beam should be even with the vertical center of the lamp. When switched to the high beam, it will typically be oval shaped and centered around the projected center of the lamp.

You have to project the center of the car and lamps to the 25' distance, it is all done on a flat plane. You can use two pieces of wood, cut the the same height as the center of the headlamp off the ground. Then put on at the front tire and the other at the rear tire. You can then sight across the top of them to the 25' distance and make a mark that would be that height, projected.

This is a link to a pdf that illustrates the procedure.

generally the aim of sealed beam lights is pretty good and very consistent. I suspect there is something incorrect in the procedure you're following.

Paul

[John-Tucson]

Paul, that was an excellent pdf on headlight alignment. Jimeg, the basic measurements are: 25' from the car to your garage door,( flat surface) measure up from the ground 24", put a "post it" there on both sides. Adjust the headlights on the "low" or "normal" setting and get the beam on the "post it". The exact way to do it is on the pgf that Paul posted. Good luck, John

[Jimeg]

Originally Posted by PaulProe

Jim
You don't say what style the lamps are. Are they standard sealed beam, 7" bulbs? Lucas PL700 bulbs? Other?

If it is a sealed beam, they are always aimed on the low beam, projecting onto a screen at 25' so the upper edge is the same height as the center of the lamp on the car. The left edge of the beam should be even with the vertical center of the lamp. When switched to the high beam, it will typically be oval shaped and centered around the projected center of the lamp.

You have to project the center of the car and lamps to the 25' distance, it is all done on a flat plane. You can use two pieces of wood, cut the the same height as the center of the headlamp off the ground. Then put on at the front tire and the other at the rear tire. You can then sight across the top of them to the 25' distance and make a mark that would be that height, projected.

This is a link to a pdf that illustrates the procedure.

generally the aim of sealed beam lights is pretty good and very consistent. I suspect there is something incorrect in the procedure you're following.

Paul

Thanks for your response Guys,

Paul, the PDF is excellent. I'll follow that procedure the first opportunity I get and let you know how the fix worked.