Cheap LED Taillight Upgrade

[86fj1200]

I did this a couple years ago on my XJ600, Some other's did this when they seen it on another forum.

So I figured i would do it to the FJ1200 and so you guys what i did, it's easy and cheap.
the tail light is for a Semi Truck Trailer and can be found at all truck stops and most Auto part stores.
The cost is between $10-$20.00they come in Red and Clear lense's I had this one laying around so i use it.
It is super brite and I think kinda of blinding from behind, which you cant tell from the pictures!
Here it goes!
the silicon was added to keep it from rattling around!

I hole has to be cut for the plug, I used my dremel tool with a cut off disk!


brake light is powered by a 9 volt battery just to test it!    it's very blinding!

you can see it fills the house well!

thats the tail light!

this is the brake light!

[Pat Conlon]

Hey Scott, thanks for the great idea.
You solved for me the missing part of the puzzle. I'm looking at doing this mod when I shave down my rear light. Soon I'll post pictures to show exactly what I'm working on....

Scott, one quick question: What did you do to separate the lens from the reflector base? Heat?

Thanks again!

Pat

[MyFirstNameIsPaul]

I thought LED's didn't make much heat?

[rktmanfj]

How well does this light your license plate?

Randy T
Indy

[Pat Conlon]

Hey Paul, Thanks for the picture. I heard about this problem with LED signal lights after the recent weather back east, bummer. LED signal lights are here to stay, low current draw and over 50,000+ hours of life. Relamping signal lights in a busy intersection is one of the most hazardous jobs a juristriction's public works staff encounters. The simple solution to the snow/ice problem is that the signals will have to be modified to cut away the bottom 1/2 circumference of the light shroud so as to prevent snow/ice build up.

My question was not about the worry of heat from the LEDs in the FJ tail light, no worries there, but how to actually separate the red lens from the base. Sometimes heat is used to soften the glue enough to pull it apart.

I thought LED's didn't make much heat?

[Pat Conlon]

Good question for Scott, but I'm not worried.
When I shave off the lower 1/3 of the FJ tail light I will replace the bottom horizontal piece with a clear red acrylic (stock#911) from these guys:  http://tinyurl.com/mlr8y
My license plate will be relocated to the left side of my swing arm.   Clear as mud?  Stay tuned.

How well does this light your license plate?

Randy T
Indy

[MyFirstNameIsPaul]

My bad!  I thought you were worried about the heat from all the LED's.  The snow problem I thought was kind of humorous, although somewhat serious as there have been several accidents caused by this problem and many areas are having to send public works out to physically clear the snow off of the light.

[rktmanfj]

Good question for Scott, but I'm not worried.
When I shave off the lower 1/3 of the FJ tail light I will replace the bottom horizontal piece with a clear red acrylic (stock#911) from these guys:  http://tinyurl.com/mlr8y
My license plate will be relocated to the left side of my swing arm.   Clear as mud?  Stay tuned.

How well does this light your license plate?

Randy T
Indy

No, I've seen that done before.

The reason I asked is because the local constabulary insists on a license plate light (and it must not be colored).

Randy T
Indy

[andyb]

Good idea!  I was considering doing much the same thing, but using interior lights in clear, behind the red lens.  This gives a red from the rear color as well as a clear light down on the plate.

No reason to give anyone a reason to pull me over and start hassling for equipment.  Hell, my riding causes enough of that in the first place!

[pdxfj]

For license plate lights you can use something like this:

http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=5000&L2=7&L3=147&L4=&item=TUC_48-0808_G

Standard LED's generate very little heat.  The higher power Luxeon LED's do generate a fair amount of heat and do require a heatsink to help keep them cool. The 1 watt versions are usually ok without a heatsink, but the 3 watt and higher do require one.  You won't be melting any housings, but you will burn out the LED emitter.

A small tip for anyone who has or is going to buy one of the 1157 Luxeon LED replacement lamps.  Use some epoxy or something similar to re-enforce the 1157 bi-pin base to the heatsink the LED's are mounted to.  Inside the 1157 base is a small circuit board and that is usually the only thing holding the heatsink on.  Vibrations will snap the circuit board over time.