Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi All

I've just fitted some new wiper blades, however they curl up at either end so only the middle is actually wiping the windscreen.

What have I done wrong ?

Also i've just ordered some halogen headlights, how do I fit them ? (or can you recommend a website with details)

Thanks for you continued help.

Andy
(still a Minor novice)

Concerning the wiper blades this seems to be typical of the stainless ones where some re-working is needed to get the full effect. Judicious use of a pair of pliers should solve your problem.

Headlamps are easy to fit: remove the chrome headlamp rim by carefully prising it off with a screwdriver, slacken the lamp adjusting screws and it should just pull out, but be careful because there is a spring attached to the reflector body and the lamp bucket which will stretch if you don't watch it. Disconnect terminals and fit the new lamps, ensuring they are handed the right way round and set correctly so as not to dazzle other drivers.

the wiper blades you need are the flat trico sort

Don't do what I do and splash out on a halogen kit, then realise you haven't got sealed beams in the first place and have to splash out for a new lamp harness

I find the old lamps suffice. Quite impressive for the 1950's and one appears to still be going on an original bulb!

chesney wrote:Don't do what I do and splash out on a halogen kit, then realise you haven't got sealed beams in the first place and have to splash out for a new lamp harness

How do I find out if I've got sealed beams ?

Remove the screw at the bottom of the rim first.
If you have sealed beam headlights, the halogens are a straight swap, earlier lights will require the later plug and wiring.
Fit decent halogens such as Wipacs, not Rings
If you are replacing the headlights you might as well remove the old rusty bowls and replace them with plastic non rust versions.
If it does not have a separate bulb then it is a sealed beam

When were sealed beams fitted? Mine has one renewable bulb and one sealed beam for some reason.

My 58 has the 'BPF' style non sealed beam bulbs if that helps answer your question?

It should state 'SEALED BEAM' on the lamp glass. The filament is cast into the reflector, which you will be able to see, hence the name - no bulb to change.

Sealed beams were 1965/66 to end of production I think, but many older cars have had them fitted over the years. I've just got hold of some Lucas prefocus bulb type ones to convert my '53 convertible back to a more original look.

Incidentally sealed beam headlamps are now no longer manufactured, (lack of demand I guess) so its existing stocks only...

If fitting Halogen units, some have a very flat lense and although they work fine, some folk (me!) don't like the appearance of them in the front of a rounded Minor wing. Others are slightly domed and some are very domed like a sealed beam unit, but that may be getting into the realms of 'who really cares'....

That's right, I bought a new pair of halogens and decided against fitting them because the flat glass didn't look right. The sealed beam unit on mine is a Lucas made in Canada so could have been a repro fitted years ago? I am pretty sure the car was in an accident at some stage in its life and the nearside was smashed up.

JOWETTJAVELIN wrote:That's right, I bought a new pair of halogens and decided against fitting them because the flat glass didn't look right. The sealed beam unit on mine is a Lucas made in Canada so could have been a repro fitted years ago? I am pretty sure the car was in an accident at some stage in its life and the nearside was smashed up.

Are all the halogens flat ?

andygill wrote:

JOWETTJAVELIN wrote:That's right, I bought a new pair of halogens and decided against fitting them because the flat glass didn't look right. The sealed beam unit on mine is a Lucas made in Canada so could have been a repro fitted years ago? I am pretty sure the car was in an accident at some stage in its life and the nearside was smashed up.

Are all the halogens flat ?

Nope!

Mine are WIPAC's and domed. Best to ask the supplier when ordering to guarantee they're not flat though.

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I seem to remember the introduction of sealed beams being something near criminal in the eyes of the average motorist.
At the time the cost of replacing a sealed beam as opposed to a bulb was inordinately expensive.
I recall my dear old dad hurling his cap to the far end of the kitchen in disgust at the cost of a new sealed beam unit.
"Bloo8y con trick!" is the phrase that comes to mind.
Happy days.

The point was that they hardly ever needed changing, they had a lot longer life than a bulb.

And compare the prices now, of around a tenner for a sealed beam unit (whilst we can still get them) to any headlamp unit for a modern car. Nothing changes....

Chrisryder's picture of the Wipac units are what I would call a 'semi domed' type and I think are what most of the Minor specialists sell. I got a set of very domed ones (can't remember the make) from SVC
http://www.s-v-c.co.uk/category/lenses---assemblies/
at a show, probably the NEC which seemed good value and didn;t look out of place on the Minor wing.

Flat ones are what you see on VW Golfs etc