Seales beam or composite headlight F53

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11-14-2014, 02:12 AM

German Joe

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Seales beam or composite headlight F53

Hey folks,

I´ve a question regarding my 1999 Pace Arrow, Ford F53 chassis.
Perhaps anyone could help me.

I have to buy new headlights, but I don´t know which kind they are.

What is more likely? Sealed beam or composite ?

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11-14-2014, 07:31 AM

Irelands child

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I'm guessing that they are sealed beam, but that's something is almost a coin flip with a MH or any other RV as they change often. Composites will usually be rounded housing with a removable H series halogen bulb while sealed beam will (usually) be a single 7" round or (usually) 2 rectangular ~4x6 completely replaceable and inexpensive assembly.

Why not take your question to the iRV2 website where they have a separate MH forum as well as a Ford chassis forum. iRV2 Forums

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11-14-2014, 07:35 AM

05F250DSL

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Sealed beams always have a stainless band surrounding them that hold them in. Most are rectangle these days. Composite is like what is on almost every car out there today the front is all once piece and smooth like the 05-07 superdutys unless it's an CL then they have the seperate blinkers and headlights. If you put up a pic we can tell you right away. Can you see the back of the light at all? A composite will have a twist in socket with a bulb. A sealed beam will plug directly in with no twist.

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11-14-2014, 12:37 PM

German Joe

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Thanks Irelands child for the link of the RV site. I will register me and ask there.

@05F250DSL:
No, I can´t look there because I´m living in germany (and I´m german) and fly for my vacations to the USA. The RV is stored there. I love to travel around there.....

They are looking like this:
1997-2007 Ford E-Series Composite Headlamp Assembly Pair Driver Passenger Both | eBay

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11-14-2014, 01:22 PM

phillips91

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If you're the same guy that was looking for a replacement in the van forum about a year ago then they are composite. Are you looking to replace the lens or the bulb?

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11-14-2014, 01:34 PM

German Joe

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Yes, I´m the same.
I fly every two years to the States. I tried to polish the lights, but that´s not a good result.
I want to replace the whole unit, because the plastik is "blind"

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11-14-2014, 02:01 PM

phillips91

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Quote:

Originally Posted by German Joe

Yes, I´m the same.
I fly every two years to the States. I tried to polish the lights, but that´s not a good result.
I want to replace the whole unit, because the plastik is "blind"

A lot of places sell light polishing kits but they usually don't work because most of the haze is inside the lens assembly. I hooked my air hose to one several years back and the air pressure popped it apart along the seal. I used polishing compound on the inside and then glued it back together. It looked like new afterwards. If you can't find a replacement then it might be worth trying.

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11-15-2014, 02:10 AM

German Joe

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I think it´s easier for me during my vacation to replace the whole unit.
You think they are composite, right?

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11-15-2014, 09:06 AM

phillips91

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Quote:

Originally Posted by German Joe

I think it´s easier for me during my vacation to replace the whole unit.
You think they are composite, right?

I haven't seen a pic of your actual light, just examples you have posted, but the examples have all been composites.

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11-15-2014, 12:26 PM

German Joe

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I think than it´s composite. The picture in the link looks exactly like the lights in my RV, no difference.
Unfortunately I have no detailed picture, you can see my RV on my homepage:
Das WoMo die erste

Perhaps that helps, but I didn´t think so.

Thanks again
Joerg

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#11

11-15-2014, 01:13 PM

phillips91

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That image helped a lot, actually. Those are composites.

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#12

11-18-2014, 12:38 AM

German Joe

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Thanks again. Then I will order new ones and see your land in a better light :-)

 Now I´m confused……..
Please look at this pictures. I´can´t see a difference and one is sealed beam and the other composite?

Or do you think the salesman has wrong pictures?

http://www.andysautosport.com/produc...7-TYC-R-A.html

http://www.andysautosport.com/produc...S-DPO-L-A.html
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11-20-2014, 12:24 AM

German Joe

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HI phillips91,

could you take a look at the pictures in my last post, please?

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#14

11-20-2014, 01:46 AM

phillips91

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Sometimes sealed beams and composites can look very similar from certain angles. Like the picture below. Without seeing the plug part of the light it would be hard to tell them apart.

Name: 100_1765.jpg
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Name: 100_1765.jpg
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Size: 31.1 KB

On the picture of your motorhome, your lights are severely hazed. Sealed beams are glass and do not haze no matter how old they are. Composites degrade over time and the end result is the problem you are having now.

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11-21-2014, 03:17 AM

German Joe

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Hi Phillips91,

thanks again, you are very helpful.
Now I´m sure that they are composite, because I know that the whole unit is made of plastik.......thanks again!

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