A Guide for Aiming Headlamps

Proper aiming and alignment of headlamps on tractors and other self-propelled equipment reduces the risk of blinding oncoming traffic when travelling at night. Adjusting your headlamps according to the following procedure will help reduce this risk. Floodlamps or lights used for field work should be aimed downward to provide illumination close to the ground and must not shine rearward when travelling on roads.

This procedure is best performed in the dark. Headlamps must be mounted so they are centered laterally. Refer to FIGURE 18 in. the step-by-step process.

1. Park your unit on a flat ground so that its headlamps are 7.5 m (25 ft.) away from a vertical wall that is perpendicular to the ground.
2. Measure the distance between the centre of your headlamps and the ground. Use this measurement (distance “H”) to mark a horizontal line (up from ground level) along the wall.
3. Turn on your headlamps (or low beams, if your unit is so equipped) and observe where the light beams fall on the wall. Beyond the outer edge of the lighted area is a less bright zone where the intensity of the light drops to 10% or less of the peak intensity (brightest area).
4. Adjust your headlamps so that the distance between the upper edge of the lighted area is at least one-tenth of distance “H” below the horizontal line on the wall indicating the centre of your headlamps (0.1 X H).

Example: If distance “H” is 1200 mm (48 in.), then the distance between the upper edge of the lighted area and the line on the wall indicating the centre of your headlamp [0.1 X 1200 (48) = 120 mm (4.8 in.)] should be not less than 120 mm (4.8 in.).

FIGURE 18. Setup for aiming headlamps.