Smith and Wesson Lightbar Project

[ark_firefighter]

So I have a SW Lightbar that I'm thinking of rebuilding if no one wants parts.


Should I restore it to original condition, 4 rotators, front / rear flashers and alley lights


OR


Should I fix it up and make it into a retro 80's ish lightbar with rotators and convert the flashers to strobes ?


Ideas ?

 

[WireKing]

That would be awesome! Convert it back to stock. Gotta shoot some pics and post them here.

 

[03crownvic]

Put Whelen 600 series strobes all the way around it and leave the takedowns/flashers original.

 

[crescentstar69]

Personally, I would keep it old skool original, unless the strobes can be made to look like they were factory installed. Definitely no LED's or anything too new.

 

[stansdds]

Depends upon the intended use. If it is for collection, then restore to original. If it is for use on a vehicle, then use strobes or LED flashers.

 

[ark_firefighter]

Well the flashers are the "headlight" style, so if I was going to convert it to strobe it would have to be the "headlight" strobes that able 2 offered several years ago. Or replace the headlights and just slap in a few hide-a-way strobes. But placing the power supply will be tricky as space is limited.


I'm kinda debating on using the S&W as a modern lightbar because I love the face that the both rotators on each side cover the intersection and alley light area providing great side protection without having a intersection sweep that draws more amps.


I'll post pics soon of the before work.

 

[stansdds]

The rotator arrangement in the S&W bars was quite good, even with the alley light option side and intersection protection was good.

 

[ark_firefighter]

Here are some photos... tore it down tonight, mostly its dirty as all get out. And for the life of me I can't figure out why the 2 flashers are only causing one light head each to flash. All headlights were tested and working fine and they are run off of the thermal flashers.


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ROTATOR THAT IS CLOSER WAS CLEANED, FURTHER ROTATOR IS HOW DIRTY THEY ARE.


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[Buckypmp]

refurb it to original . I liked that bar good luck

 

[EL1998P71]

The only thing that stopped me on my S&W project, I wasn't able to fix the original rotators. The gears got brittle and the reflector fell off. In the able 2 catalogs in their mini lightbar it showed that exact rotator. So I ordered 4 of them.


When I got them, they looked more like Code 3 style metal rotators. and mounted with 4 screws insted of 3.


I was lucky enough to be able to order all the gaskets, bulb retainer wires, and new domes from federal when they called it the Economaster.


Side note, anyone seen any of the economaster versions? They had a dome center section.

 

[stansdds]

This is the only image I have of an Economaster. I've seen one on a tow truck, looked just like this one.





I think the Economaster was sold only under FS's amber line of products.