MTFCA Forum

I have lubricated rim front and rear with wd-40 I bought the rim removal tool No luck It seems the problem is the rim will not push in to any degree therefore not releasing the lug cut out on the light bowl. Any suggestions? I have been pushing in hard with the tool and see only a tiny movement back

They can be very tough to remove. Have someone get behind the bucket to stabilize it so you can push in harder from the front.

Also, put a pillow or some towels on the ground under the headlight bucket to catch the lens if it comes out when the rim pops free.

Take it off the car and put it face down on a rubber mat such as a mudflap. Now you can use your full body weight to push the bucket into the rim and turn it with the leverage of the mounting arm.

Have you tried pushing in one lug at a time individually? I had a real tough one once and concentrated pushing one lug at a time after lubing it well with WD40. Once you get it slightly moving then try to turn the rim. It was really tough but it finally started moving.

I do as Jeff suggests - only one nut holding it to the fender iron !

Thin screwdriver !! First put blankets or quilts on the ground in front to catch the lens when it pops loose. I’ve done this many times. Stick the thin screwdriver under the rim close to the top rivet. Pry the bucket ‘cam’ area down while gently pulling the circular rim forward. It’ll pop loose and no part will be distorted. Then do the same to the outside (toward fender) rivet. It’ll be easier. Then the headlamp rim can be removed.

Thank you all!!

George House wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 09, 2019 6:15 pm

Thin screwdriver !! First put blankets or quilts on the ground in front to catch the lens when it pops loose. I’ve done this many times. Stick the thin screwdriver under the rim close to the top rivet. Pry the bucket ‘cam’ area down while gently pulling the circular rim forward. It’ll pop loose and no part will be distorted. Then do the same to the outside (toward fender) rivet. It’ll be easier. Then the headlamp rim can be removed.

This is the method I use. I've got Liberty lenses in my headlights which are shaped differently to the Ford lenses; the result being the rims can't be pushed back sufficiently to disengage them the normal way.

I take mine off and do the rubber mat trick except I use carpet. Another advantage of doing it that way, good time to clean the ground path at the mount.

Dave_Kriegel wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 09, 2019 12:55 pm

I bought the rim removal tool

Where do you find them?

A hint for re-assembly is to lubricate with wax, works great for the large surface area. Excess wipes of easy and is friendly with paint. You can buy a new ring of toilet bowl wax and leave on the work bench about $3 bucks. Works for many projects, I use it when mounting tires, spring lube, threads etc...

I have used this style of rim remover with good success.

Dave-
Have a friend come help you. Sometimes if you use four hands to squeeze at the rivet release points it will come loose.

You might want to check with Michael Pawelek to see if his two neighbor ladies are available...

: ^ )

Keith, I can’t believe you remembered my post from almost 25 years ago. I caught a bunch of flack from the forum group when I “borrowed” two of my neighbor’s wives to help me get my headlight rims off! Yes, they were great with their hands but I swear no hanky panky happened........

Just got two '26 headlight buckets. Before attempting to remove the headlight rim I went around it squeezing/kneading it against the bucket. I focused more on the area where the rivets are. This took several revolutions before I could feel the spring in the headlight reflector getting compressed. Then I got another pair of hands (Grandson's: neighbor ladies not home yet) and with each hand placed on the rim above a rivet we pressed down and rotated it counter clockwise. Came off easily. I think the secret is to make sure you are able to compress the spring all the way around the rim before trying to rotate it. Yes 4 hands make it easy.

MichaelPawelek wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 10, 2019 6:43 pm

...two of my neighbor’s wives...

How many wives does this neighbour have?

Don’t know but he always has a big grin on his face!

My right one operates smooth as silk. The left one turns easy enough, but is hard to get off. I have done the little screwdriver trick and it works. I believe the reflector is turning and getting in the way of the pins, FWIW.

It took me almost two hours to get my rims off the first time. My reproduction rims had pins of various heights and some were too long to allow removal. I filed all pins to the same height and can now remove rims whenever needed.

All the repro rims I've worked with had all 4 rivets too long - shortened them all with a Dremel w/cut-off wheel to equal lengths.

Finally, someone mentioned the correct way to turn the rim for removal! I would never use one of those tools, unless you want to ruin the paint on your rims, but if you have a '15 maybe it doesn't matter quite so much.

My thanks to all !!! Usinf two thin bade straigt screw drivers I was able to carefully pop the side rivit bumps, then the top It came right off!! So much for my new 30 dollar tool !!!!