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US market C4, with of course LHD headlamps, in RHD Japan.
We are swapping lenses for RHD, and testing some Philips RHD canted LED H4 inserts, and also wanted to give the reflectors a clean.
Silly little question; what would be the most effective and non-corrosive method of cleaning the reflectors?
I used furniture polish on my 356 (essentially the same lamp construction too all those years earlier), but is there a more up-to-date, perhaps anti-static cleaner that will not harm the typically fragile silvering on the reflector?
US market C4, with of course LHD headlamps, in RHD Japan.
We are swapping lenses for RHD, and testing some Philips RHD canted LED H4 inserts, and also wanted to give the reflectors a clean.
Silly little question; what would be the most effective and non-corrosive method of cleaning the reflectors?
I used furniture polish on my 356 (essentially the same lamp construction too all those years earlier), but is there a more up-to-date, perhaps anti-static cleaner that will not harm the typically fragile silvering on the reflector?
Thanks for any tips!
Can you change the lenses? Your headlamp surrounds look like H5's You may need to change the complete lamps to get what you wish for. To clean the refectors, I just use a soft microfibre cloth (not rubbing) and warm breath - works for me!
First, my silly little question: Today I noticed that my intermittents aren't exactly working intermittently. A few months ago they were working just fine but when I went to use them today they weren't pausing between cycles. With the dial turned fully CCW they worked just like low speed and turned fully CW they had about a 1/4 second pause. Anyone have any thoughts on chasing this little gremlin?
I also have a question that I don't think is so silly: Where can I see more of this S800?
Can you change the lenses? Your headlamp surrounds look like H5s You may need to change the complete lamps to get what you wish for. To clean the refectors, I just use a soft microfibre cloth (not rubbing) and warm breath - works for me!
Gah!
I did a quick check with the parts catalog, and assumed (duh, I know) the lenses would swap out:
But, looking in detail, the H5 system doesn't have all those eye-removing springs...
I will check in detail, but looks like we will indeed need to replace the whole unit as removing the lens from the H5 reflector looks nasty.
Well, at least we have a new set of H4 RHD lenses and inserts - anyone got a set of H4 sets for sale?
Originally Posted by forty2
I also have a question that I don't think is so silly: Where can I see more of this S800?
Ha!
Flat plane, modular crank, solid rods, and 10,000 rpm - I wish my Cayman S sounded as good, but at least I have aircon and ABS now.
There's plenty more on Cars on Film, a few on Speedhunters, and Honda-Tech for details...
H5 lenses are glued and cannot be easily removed. You can remove the assembly and use a cotton ball and a bent coat hanger to clean most of the reflector. Its not easy and you have to be gentle. I did this about 20 years ago but then upgraded to H4's and tossed my H5's in the trash.
H5 lenses are glued and cannot be easily removed. You can remove the assembly and use a cotton ball and a bent coat hanger to clean most of the reflector. Its not easy and you have to be gentle. I did this about 20 years ago but then upgraded to H4's and tossed my H5's in the trash.
Bottle brush works well, make sure they dry before you reinstall.
A mechanic tried to clean the slivering on my H4 and ruined them. Some versions of the lens backs are available on eBay. Mine weren't. It cost me a lot of money to sort it. I had to buy new ones. Just a warning.
A mechanic tried to clean the slivering on my H4 and ruined them. Some versions of the lens backs are available on eBay. Mine weren't. It cost me a lot of money to sort it. I had to buy new ones. Just a warning.
Indeed!
A common mistake is to think the reflectors are chromed, not finished with a fine layer of silver.
An electroplater can generally refinish, but that's a difficult process as well...
Originally Posted by Ralph3.
Bottle brush works well, make sure they dry before you reinstall.
The owner wants to ditch the H5, but this might work in the interim...
Thanks!
Indeed!
A common mistake is to think the reflectors are chromed, not finished with a fine layer of silver.
An electroplater can generally refinish, but that's a difficult process as well...
I'm told that they are done using vacuum depositing which is all but unavailable outside original manufacture. The mirror parts for the non adjustable lights are available on eBay.
I'm told that they are done using vacuum depositing which is all but unavailable outside original manufacture. The mirror parts for the non adjustable lights are available on eBay.
Yeah, I imagining deposition a difficult process to replicate.
I had Karmann Ghia and 356 both replated in a silver dip bath with electrolysis - very successfully.
It took weeks of waiting between the spoons and other stuff, before the shop had enough to make a full load, as I think some parts of the processing were sacrificial...
It looks like our only option is to buy a new set of H4, mostly available in LHD, and swap out the lenses for RHD.
We might try cleaning the H5 regardless, and put some new inserts before though...
It looks like our only option is to buy a new set of H4, mostly available in LHD, and swap out the lenses for RHD.
We might try cleaning the H5 regardless, and put some new inserts before though...
Not just a lens swap. ISTR the RHD H4 bulb fittings are rotated 15 deg to the LHD versions.
08-07-2019, 10:07 AM
