MTFCA Forum

After a little coaxing, I was able to remove the passenger side headlight lens to change a bulb on my ‘ 24 Touring.
A previous owner added the black tape pictured.
Was this his way of keeping the rope gasket in place or am I missing a bracket of some type?

Gene

As you suspect, a previous owner used tape to hold the gasket in place, tape does not belong. The headlight assembly is a nightmare to take apart AND reassemble. Many people resort to all kinds of things to get it back together with just 2 hands: colorful language, leaving the gasket out altogether, or even tape to hold it in place.

I see nothing wrong with the black tape as pictured. Personally I use 5-6 dabs of permatex to hold the rope in its groove. With the headlight vertically mounted in the fender bracket, you cannot keep the rope in place. Either way doesn’t add to the difficulty of installing the rim with lens. After making sure the 4 bucket rim cams are in good shape, I’ve been known to conservatively apply a little grease to the bucket between cams.

If you are using silicone to hold the gasket, be careful. Silicone will “gas off” as it cures. These fumes may attack the silver plate on the reflectors. Dan

Couple of spots with the wife's hot glue gun works great!

Richard Petty once said "I'd rather be lucky then good." I agree and I guess that I was lucky disassembling and later reassembling my '27 headlights. Rather then re-Nickle plate my existing rings, I decided to replace them with repros from Lang's (I'm sure that Snyders rings are from the same manufacturer). After going through what Humblej described, I reinstalled my old rings. It took just seconds. I then tried to install the repros again and no joy. I sent my old rings out to New England Chrome plating to be done in Nickel and returned the repros to langs. When I got the originals back they were on and in place in less then five minutes.

Gene,

Most T stuff is 'whatever works'

I dip my thumb and forefinger into a jar of Vaseline, then pull the rope through my closed thumb and forefinger. Fold the rope in half, start at 12 o'clock, leave the bottom for the open gap and it all stays in place for me. When I need to take apart, the rope also removes real easy.

If I have a head light rim that is a bear to take off, I take the whole lamp off and lay face down on a piece of carpet on the floor. Then press down and twist. The carpet holds the rim and allow even pressure all the way around. Also allows you to check and cleaning of the ground path.

I also use a glue gun - just a dab here & there.

Thanks Guys!
I'm not sure why I never noticed the black tape with the lens in place.

Gene

Can't tell from the photos if you have a Headlight reflector spring. Also I have noticed a difference in the repop rope gasket diameter. Might make it easier to remove the rim and/or cause a rattle.