25-24 t headlights

sturgis 39

sturgis 39

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I am working on a 24/25 t coupe. I would like to remove the headlight reflectors. I can rotate them a little bit but they will not release from the headlight bucket. What is the trick? One is bright and one headlight is dim.
 
The socket may be stuck in the reflector. Loosen the focusing screw on the back of the headlight bucket all the way and you might be able to pull the whole thing out.
 
thanks

i was wondering what that screw was for. this coupe is a barn find. the guy parked it in 1957 i bought new coils when the model t's were in rapid city. the thing is now running. i am going to pull it out of the garage today and try driving it in the yard. the tires will hold air for about an hour. it needs the passenger side hinge door jamb wood and the roof wood. it is in kind of rough shape. it has been fun to work on it. they had some good ideas that they quit when they built the model a.

thanks for the reply.
 
I actually drove the "t" out of the garage about 10 minutes ago.. Fist time i drove one. I found reverse by accident and decided to go for it. I am still not sure what the lever by the door does. It sounds like one cylinder only wants to fire every once in a while.This is a big day for the "t". It traveled on it's own power for the first time in 53 years and it was a fun day for me.
 
You cannot remove the headlight adjusting screw all the way unless the cotter pin inside is out. It (the screw) is brass and will twist off if you arn't careful. Push in on the ring and use an old belt to turn the rim,so it will come off.
 
THis picture should help you
 

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  • Head lamp assembly and cleaning.jpg
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In all my years of dealing with Model T Fords I may have encountered those cotter pins two or three times. I know thay are supposed to be there but they have always seemed very elusive. Most every light I ever opened didn't have the cotter pin in the focusing screw, which means you can back it out all the way and unhook the socket from the headlight body. Usually when you can't get the reflector off it's because the socket is stuck in it.
 
The reflector sometimes sticks inside of the bucket around the O.D. of the refelctor. Just use a skinny screwdriver or something similar and pop it out, just don't force it too much and bend it. Dave
 
I got the reflectors out. Is there a top and bottom for thereflectors? The light socket does not want to line up with hole in the reflector. I turned the adjustment screw and this did not seem to help. The lights are nice and bright if i jumper the side of the socket the inside of the bucket.
 
No top or bottom to the silver plated reflector, there does need to be a good ground (i.e. after 80 years of rust and crud) you must remove the socket carefully, clean and clean the hole in the bucket, then reinstall, the socket should fit tight, so it is in good contact with the bucket. The socket must protrude far into the bucket, but not too much that you cannot fit the male plug on the lead wires on the outside of the bucket into the bayonet socket and twist it in place for good elec. contact.


Then place the spring in the bucket rim, insert the reflector on center, and then push in the reflector, at the same time the socket is centered with the hole. It will go on, the hole in the reflector is just larger than the socket o.d. You just have to fiddle with it some.

Then when you remount the headlamp posts on the fender brackets, make sure you have clean contact in each metal contact area to the frame and then you will have good ground return for bright lighting.
 
Don't forget there is a rope gasket between the glass and the reflector. That's what fits in the groove around the edge.
 
RE; I turned the adjustment screw and this did not seem to help. That screw is to focus the light, just like turning a lens in and out.
 
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