Headlight lenses (electric) & RTV

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JimDix
Posts: 50
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:05 pm
First Name: James F
Last Name: Dix
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 Touring, 1921 Coupe
Location: Big Flats, NY
MTFCA Number: 7082
MTFCI Number: 14604

Headlight lenses (electric) & RTV

Post by JimDix » Tue Dec 24, 2019 3:15 pm

Anybody ever RTV lenses into the rims. Got a beautiful Rim with bad clips.


Allan
Posts: 5201
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 lenses (electric) & RTV

Post by Allan » Tue Dec 24, 2019 5:11 pm

James, if it is a fluted lens, one big gob is all that is needed, to stop it rotating on the rim. The rope seal/gasket and the spring will hold it in place when fitted. I'd let it set lying flat on the bench first before fitting it to the lamp.

Hope this helps.
Allan from down under.


Burger in Spokane
Posts: 2251
Joined: Sat Mar 09, 2019 2:05 am
First Name: Brent
Last Name: Burger
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 TT closed cab flatbed
Location: Spokane, Wa.
Board Member Since: 2014

Re: Headlight lenses (electric) & RTV

Post by Burger in Spokane » Tue Dec 24, 2019 10:29 pm

I found that even with new gaskets and tightening of the springs, I was getting
some rattle out of the glass, so I got some black silicon and squished a tight bead
at the contact point of glass and ring, and cleaned it up real good. You'd never
know it is there, and the rattle stopped. Should I need to service either, the grip
of the silicon is easily broken. I am extra careful with my amethyst lenses.
More people are doing it today than ever before !

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Mark Nunn
Posts: 1105
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 8:01 am
First Name: Mark
Last Name: Nunn
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Runabout
Location: Bennington, NE
MTFCA Number: 50321
Board Member Since: 2017

Re: Headlight lenses (electric) & RTV

Post by Mark Nunn » Fri Dec 27, 2019 1:15 pm

If you just need something to squish between the glass and rim without sticking semi-permanently, silicone will make a suitable gasket. But don't apply it to the lens or rim. Instead, use a scrap of glass and run a bead of silicone in a straight line on the glass. Make it as long as the gasket you will need. Let this cure and then remove the bead using a razer blade. You now have a flexible silicone rope that does not stick to anything. You can make different thicknesses of silicone to see what size works best. I have used waxed paper rather than glass for this technique too.

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