Maybe they should make headlight lenses out of glass, but I doubt that they will. My guess is that the decision to use plastic is a combination of weight savings and the demand for better aerodynamics to make the government"s mileage requirements. And I suspect that the automakers can make the lenses cheaper from plastic than glass.
I never found the round or rectangular glass headlights ugly, and it was nice to be able to go to almost any auto parts store, hardware store or often even grocery store and find a replacement headlight on the shelf for only a few dollars. I think that some "modern" headlights make vehicles look sinister or goofy looking.
But I had to replace the old glass headlights fairly often. They burned out and sometimes broke from flying rocks. The only times I have had to replace plastic headlight assemblies was from collision damage, usually with deer. I have yet to have a plastic lens headlight break from rocks. And I very seldom have had to replace the actual tiny bulbs they have used for the last 20 or so years. But when you do have to replace a bulb or headlight assembly, it costs a whole lot more than replacing an old sealed beam.
The lighting in most modern vehicles is way more effective than the lighting in the old sealed beam vehicles. I think the modern designs are probably great advances over the old standard sealed beam days.
Unfortunately some of the plastic lenses weather over time and get cloudy or yellowed. There are kits at most decent sized auto parts stores to polish out most of the weathering on headlight lenses. The kits cost around $20 and will make most plastic headlight lenses look a whole lot better with only an hour or two of fairly easy labor with an electric drill and the kit.
Were glass headlight lenses better? Maybe, in some ways, but probably not in a whole lot of other ways. Good luck, and polish on!
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - Engine Valves - Some Helpful Information - by Staff. Intake - On the intake stroke the piston moves doward, sucking in carburized fuel through the open intake valve. Exhaust valve is closed. Compression - With both the intake and exhaust valves closed, the pistons upward stroke compresses or squeezes the fuel into the combustion chamber. Firing - Ignited by the spark, the compressed fuel explodes and forces the piston downward on its power stroke. Intake and exhaust valves are closed. Exhaust valves and seats are exp
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
Oliver 550 Diesel runs like a watch three point hitch pto engine gone threw about two hundred hours ago nice clean tractor
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
