spospe Posted March 31, 2008 Posted March 31, 2008 I have just bought an Autosleeper Duetto based on the Transit MK7 and had some difficulty in finding information on how to mask the headlamps for driving on the right. The main problem is that the headlamp lens is quite clear with no alignment marks on it at all and so a template is needed to position the mask correctly. Eventually I got the data from Ford themselves, who seemed quite apologetic that it was not in the driver's handbook. As this data seems hard to come by, I have put it all on a small website at: http://uk.geocities.com/mk7transit@btinternet.com/ ;-) As a 'by-the-way' our old Duetto (on a MK5 Transit) had its headlamp masks fitted for 7 years and the only crazing was around the mask NOT under it.
Jasper Posted March 31, 2008 Posted March 31, 2008 Thanks spospe that's great. Was wondering how to do this over the weekend so has saved me a lot of trouble. Jas
onecal Posted March 31, 2008 Posted March 31, 2008 Hi, Be careful if you have Xeon lights dont use masks on your lens.You can purchase lens protectors with cutout deflectors for driving on thr right, Regards, Brendan.
Derek Uzzell Posted April 1, 2008 Posted April 1, 2008 Useful information for Ford Mk 7 owners. spospe - 2008-03-31 12:08 PM As a 'by-the-way' our old Duetto (on a MK5 Transit) had its headlamp masks fitted for 7 years and the only crazing was around the mask NOT under it. Unlike spospe's Duetto, the plastic headlights on my Transit Mk 5-based Herald crazed under the masks and nowhere else. This was despite using white tape for the mask and the masks themselves being on the headlamps for a maximum of 3 weeks at a time. There is a school of thought that suggests crazing may be due to the type of adhesive used on the masks, but, in my case, the crazing appeared to be within the structure of the headlights' plastic material and, if the crazing had been adhesive-related, one might reasonably expect the damage to be on the headlights' surface. If I used masks again I'd add them to headlight protectors as mentioned by onecal vw.
spospe Posted April 1, 2008 Author Posted April 1, 2008 I should have stated that the masks on my MK5 Transit were made from the, black-on-the-outside-silver-on-the-inside material that is supplied by the AA in their headlamp masking kits. There was some evidence of crazing around the masks, but as I said before, none under them. I sent the redoubtable George Collins photographs of the headlamps, but they have yet to appear in MMM.
peteS Posted April 12, 2008 Posted April 12, 2008 Has anyone printed out and try to use these MK7 headlight masks. Imay not be understanding how headlights work but with all of these masks seem to be the wrong way round. As printed and yes I am using the RHD masks, when offered up to the headlight they are masking of the offside area. Surely they should be masking the near side? Or have I got it completely wrong? Help please. I also have headlamp protectors so the mask will go on to these not the actual headlights. Many thanks Pete (confused)
cronkle Posted April 12, 2008 Posted April 12, 2008 peteS - 2008-04-12 11:57 AM Has anyone printed out and try to use these MK7 headlight masks. Imay not be understanding how headlights work but with all of these masks seem to be the wrong way round. As printed and yes I am using the RHD masks, when offered up to the headlight they are masking of the offside area. Surely they should be masking the near side? Or have I got it completely wrong? Help please. I also have headlamp protectors so the mask will go on to these not the actual headlights. Many thanks Pete (confused) My understanding is that the masking should be at about '8 o'clock' to the bulb centre viewed from in front. If you hold a piece of white card in front of the light when it is on and then try and blank the 'kick-up' with something held right onto the lens you will seen what I mean.
Derek Uzzell Posted April 13, 2008 Posted April 13, 2008 PeteS: Historically, on a 'traditional' headlamp fitted to a RHD vehicle, the mask needed to be positioned on the UK 'offside' of the lens (ie. if you are sitting in the vehicle's driving-seat, looking forward through the windscreen, then the 'offside' is to your right). It was usually quite easy to see where the mask should go, as the portion of the lens that controlled the dipped-beam pattern was clearly defined. Conversely, on LHD vehicles, masks needed to be placed on the opposite side of the lens (ie. towards the UK 'nearside') when the vehicle was to be driven in the UK. Nowadays, where the front part of the headlight is clear and acts purely as weather protection, it's much harder to know exactly where to place a mask. The instruction leaflet provided with "Eurolites" beam-deflectors indicates that deflectors (and, presumably, masks too) would, in the vast majority of cases, still be positioned (on a RHD vehicle) on the 'offside' of the headlights, though there are some rare exceptions to this rule. So the answer to your question "Or have I got it completely wrong?" is (in general) Yes. (lol) (lol)
Tony Jones Posted April 13, 2008 Posted April 13, 2008 We sailed just before Michael put up his posting, but I followed up an earlier suggestion (as I think you've done too, JudgeMental?) I bought a pair of clip-on headlamp protectors from "Formula 4." http://www.formula4.co.uk./products/ProductList/Transit-Mk7-06-on/SCF4VAN/GCFOTR7/PRvehicle.html and (from my local carspares shop) a pair of adhesive "universal" beam deflectors (not just masks) which can be used different ways up for LHD and RHD conversion. Fitted the protectors, pointed the van at the garage door with the lights dipped, and played about with the deflectors until I found the right spot to redirect the bit of the beam which would dazzle when driving on the right. Having marked this position on the protectors with a wipe-off pen, I then (keep up, here comes the good bit) turned the deflectors UPSIDE-DOWN, to the "LHD/drive on left" position, and stuck them on the INSIDE of the protectors, to leave a perfectly smooth (and easy to clean) headlamp surface. What I now have is a permanently made-up pair of beam deflectors which can be clipped onto the lights in a couple of moments at the ferryport, and kept in the garage the rest of the year - in the same way as those yellow plastic ones we used to have years ago, when all headlights were round! I'm happy to report this worked perfectly, and will go into more detail in PMs with anyone who wants to know. (I would have given more detail on here, but didn't want people to lose the will to live!!) Tony
peteS Posted April 13, 2008 Posted April 13, 2008 Thank you people as I said I have got it wrong again. Derek many thanks the masks make sense now. The beam bender idea is interesting but as I don't like driving at night anymore and intend to leave the protectors on to you guessed it protect, then this looks like a lot of work. I only need to stay within the law and not dazzle anyone for the little driving at night I will do. Thanks all Pete
ike Posted April 15, 2008 Posted April 15, 2008 Stupid question coming up! Are headlamp protectors vehicle specific rather than one size fits all. I suspect its the former. In which case what's best for a Peugot/Pilote. Any help?
peteS Posted April 15, 2008 Posted April 15, 2008 http://tinyurl.com/6hwcch Hi Ike yes vehicle specific as you have a Peugeot follow the above link this is where I got mine. Make sure you select the correct year for you vehicle, also I think they do 2 sorts. Normal and with the masking area for abroad already marked out. Pete
spospe Posted March 23, 2013 Author Posted March 23, 2013 spospe - 2008-03-31 12:08 PM I have just bought an Autosleeper Duetto based on the Transit MK7 and had some difficulty in finding information on how to mask the headlamps for driving on the right. The main problem is that the headlamp lens is quite clear with no alignment marks on it at all and so a template is needed to position the mask correctly. Eventually I got the data from Ford themselves, who seemed quite apologetic that it was not in the driver's handbook. As this data seems hard to come by, I have put it all on a small website at: http://uk.geocities.com/mk7transit@btinternet.com/ ;-) As a 'by-the-way' our old Duetto (on a MK5 Transit) had its headlamp masks fitted for 7 years and the only crazing was around the mask NOT under it. The website containing the masking information has had to change to: http://www.shooting.fsbusiness.co.uk/ The details are the same as before.
EMS Posted March 27, 2013 Posted March 27, 2013 I have fitted headlamp protectors to my Mk 7, then black insulating tape as a beam masking, very difficult for the first time. The advantage of this is as when I remove the insulation tape on returning to UK, some of the glue is left on the cover so for the next time I have already the positions needed for the tape. As has been mentioned previously the use of alcohol to remove the glue can cause crasing to the headlamp plastic was the initial reason I did not try to remove the glue. It seems that the right hand drive vehicles do put beam deflectors or blanking on the headlights but I have yet to see a main land europe vehicle in the UK with a similar fitting to their headlights! I am glad that the French do not now use yellow lights as in the past when I drove in France with white lights I was too often blinded by a local Frenchman with his yellow lights set to main beam, an anti foreigner ploy perhaps!
Derek Uzzell Posted March 27, 2013 Posted March 27, 2013 I can't say I take much notice of whether or not 'foreign' vehicles driving in the UK have masks/beam-converters on their headlamps, but "EuroLites" beam-adapters are certainly available on Brittany Ferries ships for use with the right-dipping headlghts fitted to Continental vehicles. It's as much a motoring offence if the headlights of a foreign-registered vehicle being driven in the UK produce a dazzling dipped-beam pattern as if the headlights of a UK-registerred vehicle being driven on the Continent do so. In practical terms, though, there's likely to be much less chance of prosecution in the former case (foreign vehicle in the UK) as UK police don't impose on-the-spot fines.
Tony Jones Posted March 27, 2013 Posted March 27, 2013 Tony Jones - 2008-04-13 4:22 PM ..... kept in the garage the rest of the year - in the same way as those yellow plastic ones we used to have years ago, when all headlights were round! I've just found I've STILL got a pair of THOSE in the garage too - last used on a Bedford CF coachbuilt in 1994. Any use to anyone with round lights (some A-Class maybe?). Free to good home - you collect (but Burnham-on-Crouch is a lovely place to visit!). Really MUST do something about my garage! (Slightly off-thread - but hey, on a 3-year-old thread I DON'T CARE! And they'd fit a Mk1 Transit, so I'm only 1 digit OT :D :D )
Dave225 Posted March 27, 2013 Posted March 27, 2013 EMS - 2013-03-27 5:51 PM I have fitted headlamp protectors to my Mk 7, then black insulating tape as a beam masking, very difficult for the first time. The advantage of this is as when I remove the insulation tape on returning to UK, some of the glue is left on the cover so for the next time I have already the positions needed for the tape. As has been mentioned previously the use of alcohol to remove the glue can cause crasing to the headlamp plastic was the initial reason I did not try to remove the glue. It seems that the right hand drive vehicles do put beam deflectors or blanking on the headlights but I have yet to see a main land europe vehicle in the UK with a similar fitting to their headlights! I am glad that the French do not now use yellow lights as in the past when I drove in France with white lights I was too often blinded by a local Frenchman with his yellow lights set to main beam, an anti foreigner ploy perhaps! Many vehicles in the EU have vertical dipping headlights so do not need masking for driving on either right or left side. . It is only the UK that insists on drivers resident here having lights dipping to the left, so we have all the headaches. If we had vertical ones then there would never be a problem but then again think of all the sales of light units and masks that would be lost???
Derek Uzzell Posted March 28, 2013 Posted March 28, 2013 Dave225 - 2013-03-27 7:32 PM ...Many vehicles in the EU have vertical dipping headlights so do not need masking for driving on either right or left side. . It is only the UK that insists on drivers resident here having lights dipping to the left, so we have all the headaches. If we had vertical ones then there would never be a problem but then again think of all the sales of light units and masks that would be lost??? I refer you to the 24 March 2013 8:17 PM and 25 March 2013 9:02 AM postings on the following thread: http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Motorhomes/Motorhome-Matters/Beam-benders-etc/30704/#M359673
myshell Posted April 2, 2013 Posted April 2, 2013 Not sure if this is any use to you but it's the latest instruction leaflet from Eurolites. Regards Philtravel-spot-latest-vehicle-listing.pdf
myshell Posted April 2, 2013 Posted April 2, 2013 oops sorry! only sent half of the listing / instructions. Phil
myshell Posted April 2, 2013 Posted April 2, 2013 oops sorry! only sent half of the listing / instructions. Phil
Derek Uzzell Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 myshell - 2013-04-02 10:13 PM Not sure if this is any use to you but it's the latest instruction leaflet from Eurolites. Regards Phil Forgive me for asking this, but who does the "you" in "...any use to you..." refer to? Besides a link to the latest vehicle updates, the Eurolites section of the Travel Spot website is interesting as the fitting information http://www.motoring-into-europe.co.uk/fitting.html offers advice in English for RHD vehicles, and in English, French, German and Dutch for LHD vehicles. The drawing of the dipped-beam pattern for a RHD vehicle clearly shows the pattern's 'kick-up' on its upper-left that could dazzle oncoming motorists should the vehicle be driven outside the UK in countries that have 'right-hand traffic'. Conversely, the drawing of the dipped-beam pattern in ALL the instructions for Left Hand Drive Vehicles shows the 'kick-up' on the upper-right of the pattern that could dazzle oncoming motorists should the vehicle be driven in countries (ie. the UK and Ireland) that have 'left-hand traffic'. This should convince people that, to avoid dazzling, the headlamps of 'Continental' vehicles should be masked, fitted with beam adapters, or be mechanically adjusted before those vehicles are driven in left-hand traffic countries. The headlamps of LHD vehicles are conceptually no different from those of RHD vehicles. Both types have a potentially-dazzling 'kick-up' - on the right for LHD vehicles and on the left for RHD vehicles. That, percentage-wise, 'Continental' motorists visiting the UK/Ireland mask/adapt/adjust their vehicles' headlamps far less than UK/Irish motorists visiting the Continent proves nothing. Both sets of motorists are obliged to ensure that their vehicles' headlamps don't dazzle and both sets can be prosecuted for failing to do so. There's a higher likelihood of a UK/Irish motorist being prosecuted for having 'dazzlling' headlamps when driving on the Continent than vice versa, but the reasons for that should be pretty obvious. In any case, whatever motorists do or don't do, and whether or not they risk prosecution, has no relevance to the normal dipped-beam pattern that their vehicles' headlamps produce.
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