Spotlights - Stopping them from moving

[Davidman]

Hi All,
Wondering if anyone has come up with a solution to stop bull bar mounted spotties from moving due to vibration while driving. I have tried various things, but don't at this stage want to really go down the loctite path just yet. Any suggestions please.
I have Narva 175mm's mounted on the bullbar in the centre.

 

[Greedy]

You can get stabilizing bars for most makes as an accessory. They may be the go in your case

 

[Grumpy]

I've never had trouble with them moving, maybe their just not tight enough.

 

[croozza]

That's normally a problem associated with larger spot lights, and with Narva being polycarbonate, they have less of a problem with that, make sure your lights are tightened correctly, if the problem still persists check your bull bar mounts as they may be loose and the whole bar is moving not the lights. if that doesn't fix the problem you may have to make up a stabliser bar with some ally rod flattened at both ends, then drill a hole in the flattened ends and screw one end to the upper rear of the lights and the other to the upper rear of the top bar on the bull bar.

 

[knot_gillty]

Try using a spring washer in there. I've had the same problem with a different vehicle and did this and it stopped.

 

[Davidman]

Thank Guys
Will try the easiest and work my way through until the problem is solved.
David

 

[stets]

star washers help more than spring washers, spring washers are not designed for serious vibration where as star washers are.

as for my solution, i use some cut out 12mm conveyor belt, this absorbs much of the vibrations and allows the lights to shake around on the spot without coming loose and changing angles

 

[Grey Ghost]

Hmmm the Narvas I have mounted on the front bar have not moved by any noticeable amount in the 2 yrs since I fitted them, they are the new style mounts that pivot on any angle, left/right, up/down on the polycarbonate housing, so I'm wondering if yours are tightened up properly or do you have the older style mounts that do tend to drift over time.

One of the lights also has a piece of steel bar mounted under it as an extension plate for the UHF stick to hang off and that doesn't seem to have caused that particular light to wander either...

 

[bmurray2250]

cheap stabalize bar is a large hose clamp. That is what we used on rally cars in the days before a costly adjustment bar. Cut the clamp so it attachs to stop lights and bull bar or vehicle fame.

 

[Pure Yobbo]

I had the new Narva spotties 175mm on a nudge bar on a falcon I had - they never moved until some drunk decided to step in front of me at the light in Pitt Street sydney when I was taking off. That moved the lights and he smeared his kebab across my bonnet.

Maybe they are a bot loose I done alot of miles and they never moved on that ute.

 

[Davidman]

Thanks for the advice

I have the same type as Grey Ghost with the multi direction poly carbonate swivels. I have now inserted a 10mm thick rubber washer between the bullbar and the bottom of the mount. As suggested above, this seems to have had the effect of absorbing most of the vibrations and has prevented further movement.

 

[bmurray2250]

Davidman

Took you advise but on the Narva Ultima 175 movement issues. I had to use the supplied spacers to get a good mount on the bull bar mount. I used some Silastic and made some mounds and let dry before mounting the lights onto the Prado. That appears to stop side ways twist but will check next time I do a water crossing. Added the hose clamp and that has made it easy to adjust up and down before tightening the anti-thief nuts. Looks good and no movement or vibration.

 

[jackaroo31td]

use a spring washer between the nut and the bar, then put a second nut on and lock the nuts together. should not have a prob after that. I got tired of having to reset the lights and tighten. Never had to do since.

 

[bmurray2250]

Photos of the lights with the bracket for stablizing and up/down adjustment. Just large hose clamps covered in a cable cover.

 

[MGWREF]

bmurray2250
Saw the large hose clamp used some years ago on a set of driving lights and thought it was quite clever. Made adjustment easy

 

[Stew70]

Hi everyone. I've just fitted the blue Narva 175's. Great to read all your comments. I'll keep an eye on them and modify if needed. Thanks.....