MTFCA Forum

How does one replace the headlight socket? Can't seem to figure out how to remove it .

Push in and turn CC.

Ok. Not the plug on the back but the whole socket in the headlight bowl...

First, remove the headlight rim with the lens. Then remove the reflector. Then, before you can unscrew the focusing screw from the back of the headlight you will have to remove the little cotter pin from inside the headlight. Then the socket can be pulled out the front.

Thank you. Does the reflector press fit or twist out?

Reflector twists out. With the rim and lens removed, look around the inner edge of the bucket, the reflector has cutouts to slip out from the dimpled catches that hold the rim and lens on. The reflector can be twisted either direction. Behind the reflector is a funky looking spring thing with four little triangle-like points that apply pressure to hold the reflector forward. Push the reflector back (in) and turn to line up the various slots and clips. The reflector should come out fairly easy. (Be careful to not handle the reflector surface too much, if silvered (as original) it tarnishes very easily.)

Carl, the socket may well be stuck in the headlight bucket from rust, most likely it is. After removing the focusing screw, I have had good luck soaking the socket and the bucket area with a good quality penetrating oil, NOT WD 40, that's not what it was designed for. Take a small dead blow hammer and gently work it back and forth until it starts moving, don't force it, you don't want to bang up the ends of the socket. Take your time and let the penetrating oil do it's thing. Most likely it won't move for a while, just keep working at it, once it starts moving, you have won the battle. Then, just keep working it back and forth, using some penetrating oil as it moves to flush out the rust. Don't force it. Eventually, it will most likely come loose. If you have the contacts for the bulbs, DON'T lose those itty bitty brass screws that clamp the wires, as far as I have been able to find out, they are made from unobtainium. Hope this helps. Dave

Thank you guys. Got it out. Now I have a rear tail light that decided to stop working. The bulb looks ok. My car has a starter, but no generator, so everything runs off the mag. Do the headlights need to be installed for the tail light to work? Is the tail light a mag light? The light socket moves up and down so I guess it makes contact when the bulb is installed, but does the socket come out? I know I can just replace the tail light unit with a replacement from Lang's or snyders, I dont see a replacement socket for the rear tail light, anybody else running mag lights that has a started equipped car. Hoping someone might have any thoughts...Thanks.

With out knowing what switch and how things are hooked up, don't know if the tail light is wired into the head lights on your car or separate like later cars. But could be as simple as blown bulb or dirty socket. What year is the car? Are you running mag head lights?

Tail-lights really get into strange territory. I would almost bet that not one in ten model Ts on the road today has a tail-light arrangement that is totally factory issue correct. Between adding brake lamps, extra tail lights, adapting modern bulbs, sockets, or twelve volt systems? Way too many options to try to guess what may be wrong or how to fix it.
To even begin, we would have to know everything that is there, what modifications have been made, practically a full diagram.
IF (that big "IF" again) the tail-lamp was powered from the magneto (I have seen that done!), usually, the bulbs (at least some of them) are run in series. If that is the case, then removing anything from the headlamps would most likely make the tail-lamp not work.
Wiring in series becomes somewhat math intensive. And bulb specifications become critical. Wiring everything in parallel is much easier to follow and get working well.