Author Topic: Any tips on aiming ECE headlights?  (Read 4729 times)

Offline belfert

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Any tips on aiming ECE headlights?
« on: January 22, 2014, 11:52:20 AM »
I put ECE headlights on my bus in 2011.  I believe they are 4"x6".  The best recommendation for aiming them is to use an optical beam setter.  I found a large truck shop with an optical beam setter and had the headlights aimed by them.  The right side headlight had the aiming screw turned out nearly to the point of falling out.  We drove on a trip and I think a flashlight out the window would have provided more light.  I manually aimed the headlights after that trip and they are way better now.

I don't believe my headlight aiming is optimal yet as the light isn't that great and I've read being off just a small amount makes a big difference.  What is the best way to get my headlights aimed properly?
Brian Elfert - 1995 Dina Viaggio 1000 Series 60/B500 - 75% done but usable - Minneapolis, MN

Offline bansil

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Re: Any tips on aiming ECE headlights?
« Reply #1 on: January 22, 2014, 11:57:19 AM »
Doug
Mnt City TN
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Offline RJ

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Re: Any tips on aiming ECE headlights?
« Reply #2 on: January 22, 2014, 01:37:52 PM »
The best recommendation for aiming them is to use an optical beam setter. . . 

Brian -

Nope, not true for European-code headlamps, only for US DOT junk.

Daniel Stern's directions are spot-on.

All you need is a place where you can park your coach on a flat surface 25' away from a blank wall that's not brightly illuminated at night.  Bring along a couple of dark towels, a straight-edge (a carpenter's level works wonders), tape measure, some white sidewalk chalk and a stiff-bristle scrub brush.  Can be done alone, but a companion will speed up the process.  Should take you 20 - 30 minutes, max, if you understand Daniel's directions.

Might want to wait until it warms up a bit, tho!

FWIW & HTH. . .

 ;)
1992 Prevost XL Vantaré Conversion M1001907 8V92T/HT-755 (DDEC/ATEC)
2003 VW Jetta TDI Sportwagon "Towed"
Cheney WA (when home)

Offline bansil

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Re: Any tips on aiming ECE headlights?
« Reply #3 on: January 22, 2014, 01:53:22 PM »
I used the local big box store at about 9pm

I used blue painters tape
Doug
Mnt City TN
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Offline RJ

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Re: Any tips on aiming ECE headlights?
« Reply #4 on: January 22, 2014, 02:10:54 PM »
I used the local big box store at about 9pm.  I used blue painter's tape.

Good ideas!

 ;)
1992 Prevost XL Vantaré Conversion M1001907 8V92T/HT-755 (DDEC/ATEC)
2003 VW Jetta TDI Sportwagon "Towed"
Cheney WA (when home)

Offline belfert

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Re: Any tips on aiming ECE headlights?
« Reply #5 on: January 22, 2014, 03:10:40 PM »
Brian -

Nope, not true for European-code headlamps, only for US DOT junk.

Daniel Stern's directions are spot-on.

Take a closer read of Daniel's aiming article.  His first recommendation is to use an optical beam setter.  He only recommends manual aiming if one can't find an optical beam setter.

I followed the manual aiming instructions in the article, but the place I used for aiming wasn't that great.  I guess I'll try the manual aiming again in a better spot this time if nothing else is better.
Brian Elfert - 1995 Dina Viaggio 1000 Series 60/B500 - 75% done but usable - Minneapolis, MN

Offline RJ

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Re: Any tips on aiming ECE headlights?
« Reply #6 on: January 22, 2014, 08:23:21 PM »
Brian -

Guess I'm really old-school, because it's hard to beat a tape measure and a blank wall. . .

 ;D
1992 Prevost XL Vantaré Conversion M1001907 8V92T/HT-755 (DDEC/ATEC)
2003 VW Jetta TDI Sportwagon "Towed"
Cheney WA (when home)

Offline Oonrahnjay

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Re: Any tips on aiming ECE headlights?
« Reply #7 on: January 23, 2014, 03:47:45 AM »
   Brian -

Guess I'm really old-school, because it's hard to beat a tape measure and a blank wall. . .

 ;D 

     Yeah, and the E-lights have such a sharp, bright pattern and sharp edged cutoff that they're much easier than the foggy, weak DOT lights to aim visually.
Bruce H; Wallace (near Wilmington) NC
1976 Daimler (British) Double-Decker Bus; 34' long

(New Email -- brucebearnc@ (theGoogle gmail place) .com)

 

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