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Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Renovations => Topic started by: PatC on July 11, 2011, 12:04:42 pm

Title: New clearance lights
Post by: PatC on July 11, 2011, 12:04:42 pm
New rear clearance lights.  Still have to do the fronts.  Nice and bright compared to the old incandescent bulbs.  But I would like to get my hands on the guy who originally wired 2 of the 3 center clusters.  There must have been a severe wire shortage at the time!  I needed to use a very small needlenose visegrip to hang on to the 1/2 inch of wire sticking out of the hole.  And I hope the wire connectors I got stuck using will hold up on those 4 connections!
Title: Re: New clearance lights
Post by: Gary Bouland (RIP) on July 12, 2011, 06:34:38 pm
Pat, Good looking markers, They look  just like the ones I put on  my 95 U280.
Title: Re: New clearance lights
Post by: Dwayne on July 28, 2011, 09:49:35 am
On my trip I noticed my three front center lights not working.  It was hard to mess with them being up so high but I managed to tap and jiggle the bulbs enough to get them to come on but I too noticed a short wire with an obvious patch job holding it all together.  I am goin go replace the front markers with LEDs and my plan is to hold the wire with vise grips will attaching a flat connector.  My question is what needs to be done to seal the fixture to the coach for weather?  Seam sealer...silicone...what?
Title: Re: New clearance lights
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on July 28, 2011, 10:38:52 am
Mine also did not work when we took possession. Played with the connections and put a dab of blue silicone where the wire went in and a tiny bit on where the screw holes are. Yes, the wires are super short. Not easy to get up there either.
Title: Re: New clearance lights
Post by: PatC on July 28, 2011, 10:51:10 am
I used Permatex 80855 66 Clear Silicone Adhesive Sealant recommended by the owner of auto parts store that specializes in supplying auto body shops.  He is a fellow RVer.
Title: Re: New clearance lights
Post by: PatC on July 28, 2011, 10:59:54 am
I think it was Gary Bouland who solved that problem.  A ladder with a standoff support.
Title: Re: New clearance lights
Post by: Dwayne on July 28, 2011, 12:33:34 pm
Not a problem for me.  I back my pick-up truck to the MH and stand on the tailgate or put a step ladder up on the tailgate if need be.
Title: Re: New clearance lights
Post by: nitehawk on July 28, 2011, 01:10:30 pm
Look inside the front overhead storage. The front wires were accessable from inside and if they are you could increase the length if necessary.
Title: Re: New clearance lights
Post by: aspenpilot on July 28, 2011, 10:54:22 pm
Pierce &  Gaylie,

Maybe one of these pictures will spark an idea on how you might reach your lights.  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: New clearance lights
Post by: PatC on July 28, 2011, 11:24:27 pm
Look inside the front overhead storage. The front wires were accessable from inside and if they are you could increase the length if necessary.
That is good to know!!!  Have not gotten there yet.  Been doing and undoing other stuff - don't ask!!!
Title: Re: New clearance lights
Post by: George Stoltz on July 29, 2011, 12:09:38 pm
Pictures 3 and 4 make me cringe.
Title: Re: New clearance lights
Post by: nitehawk on July 29, 2011, 01:57:56 pm
Isn't there a Leaning Tower of Piza copy somewhere in the USA that you could nose up to?
In Vegas?
Title: Re: New clearance lights
Post by: PatC on July 29, 2011, 09:13:10 pm
Sent both of those to my son, the Fire Dept Code Enforcement Officer one.  Am sure he will get a kick out of them.
Title: Re: New clearance lights
Post by: John S on July 30, 2011, 06:55:30 am
New rear clearance lights.  Still have to do the fronts.  Nice and bright compared to the old incandescent bulbs.  But I would like to get my hands on the guy who originally wired 2 of the 3 center clusters.  There must have been a severe wire shortage at the time!  I needed to use a very small needlenose visegrip to hang on to the 1/2 inch of wire sticking out of the hole.  And I hope the wire connectors I got stuck using will hold up on those 4 connections!

There is more wire in there. They siliconed the wire right next to the opening to keep it from vibrating loose. Just stick your finger inside the hole and feel for the lump of silicone and use a small knife or screwdriver and peel it up a bit and pull out what you need.  The side marker lights in the middle were the ones I had very little wire to work with but the rear and front were all siliconed and only a small amount sticking out.
Title: Re: New clearance lights
Post by: Dwayne on August 07, 2011, 01:13:06 am
Replaced all clearance lights with LED's today.  What a job in this heat and humidity.  My truck bed idea mostly worked but not on the front.  Thanks to Gary for the inspiration.  I took an extension ladder and afixed a large think piece of foam I had with a bungee cord.  Worked like a charm.  I noticed that the corners are a bear cause if you tighten them they break.  Good thing I bought a couple extras.  Also noticed that the side markers don't have any room inside to stuff in the wires.  I had to drill holes in the fixtures and ran the excess wiring under the lens.  I am really impressed that anyone much older than 50 could do all the lights in one day.  I was seriously dragging butt by the time I finished even with a hour break half way through for a thunderstorm.  I noticed they weren't all the same as far as wiring.  Some had two grounds wired together and some just had one green wire.  I bought two wire fixtures the exact shape of the old ones.  The old ones had no wire, just the wiring from the coach that attached on either end of the bulbs.  The new LED's look really good but more importantly...they all light.  No more constantly messing with those push in bulbs.
Title: Re: New clearance lights
Post by: Jerry & Coleen on August 10, 2011, 09:43:14 am
On my list of things to change on Casper.  Will never drive the coach at night (most likely) but they still should work.  ^.^d
Title: Re: New clearance lights
Post by: Keith and Joyce on August 10, 2011, 11:30:22 am
Nitehawk,

Yes, there is a 1/2 size replica at 6300 W. Touhy Av in Niles IL. That's a Chicago suburb.  Built as part of a company park originally I believe.

Keith
Title: Re: New clearance lights
Post by: PatC on August 10, 2011, 09:50:36 pm
I noticed that the corners are a bear cause if you tighten them they break.  Good thing I bought a couple extras. 
That is what Permatex 80855 66 Clear Silicone Adhesive Sealant is for.  Or any other good automotive silicone sealant.  Tighten the screw toward center and snug up the outside screw.  Then carefully seal it
Title: Re: New clearance lights
Post by: Lon and Cheryl on August 11, 2011, 01:56:14 am
Nitehawk,

Yes, there is a 1/2 size replica at 6300 W. Touhy Av in Niles IL. That's a Chicago suburb.  Built as part of a company park originally I believe.

Keith

It's called the "Leaning Tower YMCA".