Remove/Replace Headlight Reflector

jharrellh

jharrellh

Junior Member
I am probably overlooking the obvious, but I didn't want to force anything - how do you remove the headlight reflectors from the headlight bucket?
 
A little closer look will reveal that at the 3 & 9 o'clock positions are small tabs at the front edge of the bucket that hold the reflector in, The reflector should just slide off the bulb socket (the socket is notched to index the bulb filaments).
 
If your socket is corroded to the reflector, you can undo and remove the "focus screw" at the back of the bucket. This will at least allow you to access the back side of the bucket, potentially snip the wires for removal, or demounting the "plug" remove the entire assembly with the bulb socket in place.

A lot of "weathered" buckets have the 3 & 9 **** corroded off - and a corresponding ring of rust making a "rust joint" between the reflector cork gasket and the bucket. A utility knife can knife this and free the reflector.

If you're to this point you probably want to get new reflectors anyway with new gaskets.

Joe K
 
Thanks again everyone! The lighting is pretty bad where I have the car stored, looking closer this morning I could see the tabs at 3 and 9 that I had to unbend. Now I just need to deal with a stripped adjusting screw. Any suggested vendors for quality sockets?
 
I just push the reflector to one side to release from the tab if needed or just pop it out. The tabs are there to keep it from rotating. The original reflector had the socket offset by just a little and the tabs keep it centered. You should not need to bend them up.
 
You didn't ask but I thought I would mention that the best reflectors are available from Bratton's. They invested to have the correct tooling made. I don't know is they have released their product to other Model A suppliers.

Charlie Stephens
 
jharrellh said:
Thanks again everyone! The lighting is pretty bad where I have the car stored, looking closer this morning I could see the tabs at 3 and 9 that I had to unbend. Now I just need to deal with a stripped adjusting screw. Any suggested vendors for quality sockets?
Click to expand...


I don't think any vendor has a high quality headlight socket. They can be fiddled with and made pretty decent but if you want good ones maybe call Bert's in Denver and see if they have any originals.
 
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