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[HackNDos]

Ok. I'm not a complete idiot but I am having a problem here with replacing a amber front marker/turn signal bulb. (Dual fillament type.)

So, one burns out.  I look at the bulb and on the base it says 1157.  The bulb is colored amber.

So I got to my local auto parts store.

I look over the shelf and locate 1157A.  I know mine doesn't have an A on it, so to be safe I look for an amber one with just 1157.  Figure better safe than sorry. I couldn't find one.

So I use the old one to gauge the little offset's for the socket to twist and lock them in.  They seem about the same just eyeballing them.

Well no go.  The 1157A wouldn't fit.

The store doesn't have 1157's in amber so... Ok, what am I doing wrong here?  Is there really a difference in the 2?  I thought the A just meant Amber. (would seem to make sense.)

Input welcomed, ribbing expected

And does anyone know if there is an LED substitute that does not require the install of a load balancer on the bike to work properly?

[Fired00d]

Did you try spinning the bulb around 180 degrees?

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[HackNDos]

Ahhh see! Now i knew something like that would be asked.  Yeah. I checked offsets to make sure they were in the correct groove.

Incidentally I have a pair of these lovely flamed chrome front harley turn signals that I can't use, and I stole a bulb out of one of them and it locked right in without a problem. (Can't use them because my turn signals are relocated to the auxilary light bar. And I used the ones made to directly mount up to it. Next project, how to use those instead. lol)

[Keats]

1157A is a dual filament bulb, 1157 is single filament bulb

never mind...the 1156 is a single

[Fired00d]

Ahhh see! Now i knew something like that would be asked.  Yeah. I checked offsets to make sure they were in the correct groove.

Incidentally I have a pair of these lovely flamed chrome front harley turn signals that I can't use, and I stole a bulb out of one of them and it locked right in without a problem. (Can't use them because my turn signals are relocated to the auxilary light bar. And I used the ones made to directly mount up to it. Next project, how to use those instead. lol)

You know those questions only get asked because of prior experiences.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Fired00d]

1157A is a dual filament bulb, 1157 is single filament bulb

You sure about that?? I think the "A" stands for amber color... 1156 is single filament, but I thought 1157 were double.

BTW - You want to get "NA" if you can find them. They don't have the amber coating that will peel off the glass is actually amber.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[HackNDos]

LOL Firedood.. YA! lol Its all good.

As for the 1157 vs 1157A, Isn't the front amber light both a marker light, and turn light? Thus requiring a dual fillament bulb?

[Fired00d]

LOL Firedood.. YA! lol Its all good.

As for the 1157 vs 1157A, Isn't the front amber light both a marker light, and turn light? Thus requiring a dual fillament bulb?

Yep, that's what I run in mine, but I use the "NA's"

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[HackNDos]

Ok I will try and locate the 1157NA.

Just a shame this pair I bought last night wont lock in. Sylvania 1157A longlife bulb. I hate taking parts off of other devices, I like keeping them complete for when I need them.

So this 1157A should have worked for me though? I'm not going nuts? (Okay maybe I am but thats a different story.)

[Keats]

You sure about that?? I think the "A" stands for amber color... 1156 is single filament, but I thought 1157 were double.

BTW - You want to get "NA" if you can find them. They don't have the amber coating that will peel off the glass is actually amber.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

Gary, you are right

[49445CVO]

You sure about that?? I think the "A" stands for amber color... 1156 is single filament, but I thought 1157 were double.

BTW - You want to get "NA" if you can find them. They don't have the amber coating that will peel off the glass is actually amber.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

My dealership ordered me like 10 bulbs for $12.00.  they said the glass was tinted not a coating.  They are not in yet so I can't tell.  I think they might have ordered them out of the Kury book.

Topper

[RJ749]

Not sure if the 1157 vs 1157A is answered above, but they are the same base and should fit in any socket for the 1157 application.

Is it possible the socket needs a squirt of WD40 to depress the base?  The bulb you purchased is the correct one.

[HackNDos]

Maybe a squirt would help but not sure.

As I mentioned I yanked a bulb from an unused turn signal and plugged it right in. Without a problem. Yet the newly purchased 1157A would not lock in. *sigh*

[grc]

Not sure if the 1157 vs 1157A is answered above, but they are the same base and should fit in any socket for the 1157 application.
Is it possible the socket needs a squirt of WD40 to depress the base?  The bulb you purchased is the correct one.

Correct.  1157, 1157A (amber), and 1157 NA (natural amber) all use the same bayonet dual contact base.  It's possible the one that wouldn't lock in just had a manufacturing flaw in the base.  I've run into bulbs in the past that required more effort to "lock in" than the one I removed, so this isn't an isolated occurence.  Manufacturing tolerances from some of the countries making these things aren't exactly awe inspiring.

BTW, Fired00d is correct, try to find the NA version.  HD uses and sells the cheap A version, and the amber paint tends to peel especially when the bulb gets wet when heated up.  Since the turn signals are not sealed, the bulb will in fact get wet.  Another alternative is the Silverstar 1157 that looks silver/blue when off, but amber when on.  I've had a pair on my bike for about three years now with no issues, after several stock bulbs suffered early failures and peeling paint.

Jerry

[HackNDos]

Thanks for the Silverstar info. I have also seen ones that were only half covered in the silver. They said these were supposedly more visible then the fully coated?

Any opions oneway or the other on full vs half coated?