Tail/brake lights

[homebrewer]

Did the P15's have any kind of reflector or mirror type in the tail/stop lights? or did they just have the bulbs sticking in the hole and shining through the red glass? Thanks in advance. George

[greg g]

Just the hole. Some folks have reported good luck painting the fender inside the bezel white or silver.

[anthonyb]

You might also try that self-adhesive 'chrome' tape. That reflects fairly well, at least in all of my light set-ups.

[Niel Hoback]

I used tin foil as a sort of a cup shaped reflector. Just have to be careful about shorting out a wire on the socket. It did help quite a bit, though.

[BobT-47P15]

Think I wrapped the clip inside the trunk that holds the bulb with tin foil to

keep light from escaping. The fender is light yellow behind the lense....

probably helps some.

[homebrewer]

Thanks to all who replied. I think I'm going to try the reflective tape trick inside the bezels and see if that makes the lights any brighter. George

[knuckleharley]

Thanks to all who replied. I think I'm going to try the reflective tape trick inside the bezels and see if that makes the lights any brighter. George

Check these guys out. I found out about this company right after I spent more than their complete assemblies cost to buy a pair of used taillight bezels and get them rechromed. Yes,they come as a complete unit including glass and bezels.

http://www.shiny-hiney.com/rodcustom.html

[Captain Neon]

If Technostalgia made those taillights for 6v, I'd buy them in a heart beat. That being stated, I am ordering some red LED replacement bulbs from SuperBright to see if that makes a difference. I've read good things. They may not have all the bells & whistles of a set of Technostalgia taillights, but even a moron like me can change a light bulb with proper supervision.

[homebrewer]

I just replaced the stop light bulb (12V) with an 1156 Halogen 50 Watt. It is supposed to be for a back up light. I also applied chrome tape to the area under the glass. It appears to be much brighter now. Also for those with a 12 Volt system and running turn signals a 2357 bulb is a little brighter than the 1157. I'm thinking about a 20 LED light specifically for blue dot lenses. They are from Flip Flop LED. They have 19 red LEDS and a 1 blue LED in the center.George

[Niel Hoback]

I used a 50 watt halogen in my stoplight and the current draw was heavy enough to burn the switch contacts up. It was a very cheap switch, but check yours once in a while.

[james curl]

You could run the output wire from the brake light switch to a 50W relay if you can find one to carry the load of the tail lights.

[greg g]

Niel, I am running two halogen bulbs in my tail lights 35 watt running lights and 55 watt stop lamps. I have added separate ground wires for each fixture which made them brighter and lessend thier draw as indicated by the ammeter.

Also trace the wires back and make sure the connections at the but connector in the trunk are good and tight.

[Niel Hoback]

Thanks for the good suggestions. I have copied them so maybe I will do it right this time! Seriously, I had a GM cruise control switch I was using and it was such a piece of crap that I should have know better. I never did understand that watt/amp/volt thing, even though I have been instructed by people on here that really do know.

I am back to the old OE stop light untill I get brave again and try something else.

[greg g]

were you using the CC switch for the brakes??? If so you might wnt to go to one of those universal hot rod typ brake switches or go to the local Harley dealership and get a new hydraulic one. These work pretty well. Also are you using 1 brake lamp or have you gone to useing 3? If you are runnig three, that is quite a bit if draw and the wiring should be 10 or 12 gauge at least for 6 v.

[Niel Hoback]

I was, and still am, using only one stop light. The cc switch was such a neat installation that turned on as soon as the pedal moved away from it. I couldn't pass it up. Just another "Seemd like a good idea at the time".

It really was bright though, for a while.