Headlight thimble socket
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
-
Topic author - Posts: 101
- Joined: Fri Apr 19, 2019 5:50 pm
- First Name: Bob
- Last Name: Benner
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: TT 1924, touring 22
- Location: East Setauket, NY
- MTFCA Number: 52622
Headlight thimble socket
Any advice on replacement of a headlight thimble socket? One of the contacts is pushed in and not spring loaded. How do I get the thimble socket out to replace?
-
- Posts: 3299
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:56 am
- First Name: Dan
- Last Name: Treace
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '23 cutoff, '25 touring, '27 touring
- Location: North Central FL
- MTFCA Number: 4838
- MTFCI Number: 115
- Board Member Since: 2000
- Contact:
Re: Headlight thimble socket
It’s a sliding fit in the sleeve of the headlamp bucket opening. Remove the rim and lens, then twist away and lift out the reflector. If old may be some rust so penetrating oil can help if the socket sticks in the sleeve.
Now remove the tiny cotter from the long adjusting screw and remove the screw and spring.
Find a wood dowel or a proper sized bushing driver and push the old socket from the sleeve.
Replace new socket in same manner, aligning the lug for the adjusting screw and spring as removed.
Reassemble the head lamp.
Now remove the tiny cotter from the long adjusting screw and remove the screw and spring.
Find a wood dowel or a proper sized bushing driver and push the old socket from the sleeve.
Replace new socket in same manner, aligning the lug for the adjusting screw and spring as removed.
Reassemble the head lamp.
The best way is always the simplest. The attics of the world are cluttered up with complicated failures. Henry Ford
Don’t find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain. Henry Ford
Don’t find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain. Henry Ford
-
Topic author - Posts: 101
- Joined: Fri Apr 19, 2019 5:50 pm
- First Name: Bob
- Last Name: Benner
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: TT 1924, touring 22
- Location: East Setauket, NY
- MTFCA Number: 52622
Re: Headlight thimble socket
Thanks Dan.
-
- Posts: 63
- Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2019 10:20 am
- First Name: Thomas
- Last Name: Pilz
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1921 roadster, 1923 roadster pickup
- Location: Manorville, NewYork
Re: Headlight thimble socket
Bob when you get that out make sure to shine up the inside hole of the headlight bucket for that is the ground for the socket I may have spares if not new ones can be ordered. A little off topic but do you still have the clunk or did we fix that last week.
-
- Posts: 1930
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:39 am
- First Name: Tim
- Last Name: Juhl
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1917 Touring
- Location: Thumb of Michigan
- MTFCA Number: 50297
- MTFCI Number: 24810
- Board Member Since: 2018
Re: Headlight thimble socket
I have to get at my headlight socket as well. Dan, do I understand that the reflector has to be twisted to remove? I'm afraid of damaging the reflector so haven't done anything more than remove the bezel and clear lens. Mine is a 1917 with the two-contact connector originally designed for magneto bulbs.
1917 Touring
1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor
1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor
-
- Posts: 3299
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:56 am
- First Name: Dan
- Last Name: Treace
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '23 cutoff, '25 touring, '27 touring
- Location: North Central FL
- MTFCA Number: 4838
- MTFCI Number: 115
- Board Member Since: 2000
- Contact:
Re: Headlight thimble socket
Tim
Yes, the reflector must come out to get to the fastener/adjusting screw of that double-ended socket.
The reflector is held by the same rim spring that holds the lens and rim secure. The reflector has off-set tangs, that clear the tabs on the rim of the headlamp bucket. Push in to release tension of the 4- prong spring. Then twist as you have released tension, and align the reflector tangs with the bucket tabs. Pull out and away from the socket.
A small hook tool helps to pull one edge of the reflector with care, to allow one to grasp it. (If reflector is nice, use clean gloves to keep prints off the silver plate.)
Aligning the tangs and tabs by rotating the reflector slightly. The tangs must clear the tabs to remove, when you replace rotate again to lock the reflector in place, under tension of the rim spring.
Yes, the reflector must come out to get to the fastener/adjusting screw of that double-ended socket.
The reflector is held by the same rim spring that holds the lens and rim secure. The reflector has off-set tangs, that clear the tabs on the rim of the headlamp bucket. Push in to release tension of the 4- prong spring. Then twist as you have released tension, and align the reflector tangs with the bucket tabs. Pull out and away from the socket.
A small hook tool helps to pull one edge of the reflector with care, to allow one to grasp it. (If reflector is nice, use clean gloves to keep prints off the silver plate.)
Aligning the tangs and tabs by rotating the reflector slightly. The tangs must clear the tabs to remove, when you replace rotate again to lock the reflector in place, under tension of the rim spring.
The best way is always the simplest. The attics of the world are cluttered up with complicated failures. Henry Ford
Don’t find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain. Henry Ford
Don’t find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain. Henry Ford
-
- Posts: 3641
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 3:13 pm
- First Name: Wayne
- Last Name: Sheldon
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 Runabout 1913 Speedster
- Location: Grass Valley California, USA
- Board Member Since: 2005
Re: Headlight thimble socket
Very nice write-up and pictures Dan T ! Thank you.
-
- Posts: 5205
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:21 pm
- First Name: Allan
- Last Name: Bennett
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912 van, 1917 shooting brake, 1929 roadster buckboard, 1924 tourer, 1925 barn find buckboard, 1925 D &F wide body roadster, 1927LHD Tudor sedan.
- Location: Gawler, Australia
Re: Headlight thimble socket
While you are at it, solder a wire to the socket body, and when it is installed in the lamp, solder the other end to one of the rivets which hold the lamp to the post. Then you will have eliminated dodgy earth problems associated with the slide contact between the socket and lamp body.
Allan from down under.
Allan from down under.
-
- Posts: 1930
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:39 am
- First Name: Tim
- Last Name: Juhl
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1917 Touring
- Location: Thumb of Michigan
- MTFCA Number: 50297
- MTFCI Number: 24810
- Board Member Since: 2018
Re: Headlight thimble socket
Thanks Dan - great explanation. Allan, soldering a ground also sounds smart. I'll give it a try tomorrow.
1917 Touring
1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor
1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor
-
Topic author - Posts: 101
- Joined: Fri Apr 19, 2019 5:50 pm
- First Name: Bob
- Last Name: Benner
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: TT 1924, touring 22
- Location: East Setauket, NY
- MTFCA Number: 52622
Re: Headlight thimble socket
I got the light apart and after some half hour of persuasion, freed the thimble from its time glue. It took another twenty minutes to release the crushed terminal. Shined up the silver parabola and put it back together. The lights work again! Ordered new thimbles and retaining spring for a rainy days tinkering.
Worked on the rear bed later on.
Thanks to the folks who gave the great advice and pictures. Made the job easier.
Worked on the rear bed later on.
Thanks to the folks who gave the great advice and pictures. Made the job easier.
-
- Posts: 5205
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:21 pm
- First Name: Allan
- Last Name: Bennett
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912 van, 1917 shooting brake, 1929 roadster buckboard, 1924 tourer, 1925 barn find buckboard, 1925 D &F wide body roadster, 1927LHD Tudor sedan.
- Location: Gawler, Australia
Re: Headlight thimble socket
Bob, if one of the contacts has lost its 'spring', it should be replaced. The contacts and spring between them all carry the headlight current. If there has been any heat through a short circuit/resistance problem, the spring is likely to have lost its temper, and continued contact will. be compromised.
Allan from down under.
Allan from down under.
-
- Posts: 1015
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:45 am
- First Name: David
- Last Name: Stroud
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 Coupe
- Location: Mound City, MO 64470
- Board Member Since: 2011
Re: Headlight thimble socket
What ever you do, if you are working on the headlight sockets, DON'T lose those TINY brass set screws for the wires. As far as I know, they aren't available from any of the vendors. Maybe from another source, I don't know. Just heads up. Dave
1925 mostly original coupe.