I have done 2 of the 4 tail lights and now waiting for 2 LED assemblies to complete the job.


I have the complete write up along with pictures on my website now. The file (.doc) is fairly big (about 3.7mb) my PDF converter broke so dial up users beware!

LED conversion

click on LED conversion.doc

Enjoy!

Nice work and a great writeup!

Super job, Ed, & the write-up is great.

Ed you're a genious, it looks beautiful. Would you give me permission to transfer the write up to pdf form and attach it here so others can easily. I would create a killer front page for it.

If so could you let me know what your last name is?

Dave, you may do whatever you like with these posts, it has been my pleasure to be a member of this fine community and a part of what you have created. Let me know if you need anything directly from me as well so I may support where possible.

God Bless

Ed Raether

Wow, very impressive. You do nice work. The .doc was easy to follow and your pictures told the story nicely.

I have been able to secure a source for the tail light lenses. The lenses have the same pattern and seals the light assy the same. The only difference is the outer skin height of the lens. One side sits higher then the other but seals the same at the base.



Looking at this picture you can see the original side profile on the right compared to the new style replacement.

If this will benefit anyone they are $5.00 each with $5.00 shipping. Buy enough to replace four lenses (two light assy) and it's a flat $20.00 with NO shipping charges.

These are the red lenses that KD made as a replacement for the original tail light lens. These lenses are no longer available or listed in their books and are considered obsolete.

I have not ordered these yet as it takes a min order of $200.00 to get. I don't need that type of order from this site as I'll just tack it onto another order for lights for my business.

No more pink lenses - If interested reply and I'll order them up in a week.

Not asking for money for myself - donation to Barthmobile and your thoughts on the replacement (good or bad) after they're installed on your coach.

With the LED conversion and new lenses this will look real nice!

Bill N.Y.

These are very close to the lenses I bought from MO, except that note the Barth bezel on my Breakaway has different radii at the base's top and bottom, This means that upper and lower lenses aren't interchangeable. IIRC, the dealer told me they were surplus from a model of Winnie or Fleetwood.

Mine have a different radius on the top and bottom of the lens but the lenses are upside down on the bottom mounting, have to be careful installing them not to try to install them in the wrong orientation.

My upper and lower are interchangeable just have to rotate them 180 degrees from top to bottom. they are both KD 460 lens

Thank you Ed.

The pdf is attached below for download purposes

LED Tail Light Conversion - (1,876 KB) ~ Ed's LED Lighting Conversion

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:
...except that note the Barth bezel on my Breakaway has different radii at the base's top and bottom, This means that upper and lower lenses aren't interchangeable.

You're correct - there is a lower and an upper lens. It is not the same lens. Each side needs two different lenses.

The way I figured it, no one would buy one anyway - If you're going to buy two for $10.00 and pay an additional $5.00 for shipping (total $15.00) then you would pay the twenty just to get all four new ones.

So, I'll cut to the chase. $20.00 for all four lenses with free shipping!

quote:

Originally posted by MWrench:
...they are both KD 460 lens

Those lenses are not available anywhere. These lenses will fit but you do need two different part numbers per side.

Bill N.Y.

Edit to show mistake but not change any content!

Yup I know that the KD 460 lens isn't made and no one seems to have them--BUT --I am confused! If the KD 460 lens was used on both upper and lower, just rotated, why would you need 2 different part numbers or lens for the replacement? Can't you just rotate the lens 180 degrees? If it fits on the top it would fit on the bottom, just rotate.

What am I missing?

HI Bill, still confused, The KD 460 IS rotated as mounted in the base unit. The narrow end of the lens has two different radii, the larger radius end of the lens is at the upper and lower end of the assembly, Therefore if the same lens is used top and bottom and rotated, it would look like your first drawing where the thickness would increase and the decrease. Here is a picture of the lens and notice the difference in radii at the narrow ends. The picture shows the lens as it would be mounted in the bottom position.



I have the back up light in the middle and the sharper radius of both top and bottom lenses is at toward the backup light. I would think that the first drawing you used where the thickness increased from the top end toward the middle and then decreased to the bottom end would be what is desired, and that would have to be the same lens just rotated 180 degrees.

Scratching head---

I see the error in my ways - I read the info a lot closer and found out which ones are needed to make it look like this.



Based upon the way it was written they described them as inboard and outboard lenses.

I thought that meant there were two different lenses per light fixture. This is not the case as Ed correctly pointed out!

This picture represent the fixture and lens much better. This style lenses is available as stated above.

Bill N.Y.

Sorry to all dial up users - the pictures below show the high side and low side style replacement lens - These are the actual picture sitting on the desk. The left lens is raised and has a tight radius on the high side. The lower side has a sweeping radius. The right lens is opposite and would not work well.



If you installed two of the lenses from the left it would look like this.

If you order these here then this is what it would look like as a side profile. A lot more desirable then other options explored below.

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This picture below shows what two lenses would look like with two different part numbers inboard and outboard. Not cosmetically appealing, but it would work.



Likewise two of the wrong ones (right side of top color photo) would show the high side on the top and bottom edges (right lower) with the reverse lights raised up in the center. Not cosmetically appealing, but it would work.

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These screw into the tail light housing that Ed has made the LED conversion for. If your lenses are pink then this is now your only option.

Bill N.Y.

I know this is a total longshot but does anyone still have a source on the KD460 tail light? I can't find them anywhere and would LOVE to replace my purple/pink taillights without replacing the whole assembly!

Thanks.