Only one high beam

[sula bob]

New here with a 2005 L3830 HST. When I picked up the tractor, only the left head light worked. I figured it was a blown bulb so I didn't think much of it. I've dug into it a little bit and have gotten both bulbs to work in low beam. The connectors were a little dirty. My question is why does only one bulb work in high beam? The filaments on the bulbs look good. Nothing looks broken inside the bulb, and it doesn't have the rattle noise like a blown bulb usually has. If there's already a thread on here please point me in that direction. I don't want to be "that" guy that asks a question that has already been answered.

 

[Grouse Feathers]

You can't always tell by looking, swap the bulbs to determine if they are both good. Next step is to clean up the sockets and check for voltage on the wire to the socket. If you have voltage then the problem is in the socket if not then it is in the wiring.

Larry

 

[sula bob]

Thanks for the quick response! I did swap them and the issue isn't with the bulb. I took some sand paper and removed as much of the rust and corrosion from both sockets and both bulbs as possible. I will check for power with a multi meter just to be sure.

 

[mickeyd]

Welcome to OTT Bob. Isn't it great the help you get here?

 

[85Hokie]

there should be two spots inside the connector - and then the outside is the ground - one of the spots is suppying 12 volt and the other is too - this will light one or the other filament. I am guessing that one of them is NOT hitting the bulb correctly or it is not getting the voltage......measuring off the good connector will tell you which is which

 

[sula bob]

Welcome to OTT Bob. Isn't it great the help you get here?

Yes it is!

 

[sula bob]

there should be two spots inside the connector - and then the outside is the ground - one of the spots is suppying 12 volt and the other is too - this will light one or the other filament. I am guessing that one of them is NOT hitting the bulb correctly or it is not getting the voltage......measuring off the good connector will tell you which is which

I'll check to make sure they're lined up correctly. It's a PITA to get the bulb in there and line it up correctly. I wish they had put a little more thought into the design. OR maybe I'm doing something completely wrong with how I'm putting the bulb in the socket.

 

[85Hokie]

I'll check to make sure they're lined up correctly. It's a PITA to get the bulb in there and line it up correctly. I wish they had put a little more thought into the design. OR maybe I'm doing something completely wrong with how I'm putting the bulb in the socket.

Is there two notches on the inside of the sleeve? In other words the bulb can go in and twist? Two tabs on the bulbs? Sometimes the contacts dont or will not line up and hit the bulb!

 

[sula bob]

I switched the bulbs again after the voltage tested properly and voila they both work! Not sure what I did differently other than work in the daylight. Thank you for all the help.

 

[85Hokie]

I switched the bulbs again after the voltage tested properly and voila they both work! Not sure what I did differently other than work in the daylight. Thank you for all the help.

Betcha one was not seated well enough or just wasnt making good contact with the internal part - glad that you got 'em working!