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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ cleaning the inside of the turn signals and tail lights
Posted by: 914 RZ-1 Dec 9 2017, 01:24 PM
Before I do anything that might damage them, how do I clean the chrome on the inside of the front turn signals and also the rear tail lights?
I was going to use dish soap and water, but thought I might ask if there was a better way. They are dirty and there are a few spots where the chrome is bubbling/chipping, but it's not bad.
Can I polish them with anything?
Posted by: JFG Dec 9 2017, 01:50 PM
For the front buckets i had to do a lot of work.
1 thoroughly cleaned.
2 medium to fine sanding
3 i used a coarse paste on a small (dremmel) polushing pad.
4 i finished them with a fine paste and a large domed polishing pad on a slow speed drill.
They came up very nice. M
My rears were so worn and previously painted that i had to use a chrome reflective vynil to recover the inside reflector wells.
Posted by: Dave_Darling Dec 9 2017, 02:56 PM
I used Brasso. Wasn't great, but it seemed to make what was there a bit shinier. I may wind up putting some of the aluminum flue tape in so the shiny back of it serves as a reflector.
--DD
Posted by: Front yard mechanic Dec 9 2017, 04:48 PM
chrome spray paint worked for me I bought a small can years ago and it has lasted many a tail light housing
Posted by: GeorgeRud Dec 9 2017, 04:52 PM
Has anyone ever had them rechromed? I imagine that would be the best way to restore them, but $$$.
Posted by: 76-914 Dec 10 2017, 09:46 AM
chrome spray paint worked for me I bought a small can years ago and it has lasted many a tail light housing
Even a fresh coat of a bright silver paint makes an amazing difference.
Posted by: mgphoto Dec 12 2017, 09:52 AM
I was thinking of chrome powder coating for the front turn signal buckets.
Posted by: mepstein Dec 12 2017, 09:54 AM
I was thinking of chrome powder coating for the front turn signal buckets.
I would do chrome cerakote
Posted by: Costa05 Dec 12 2017, 11:42 AM
Bright aluminum colored spray paint looks very good and reflective.
Posted by: Specracer Dec 12 2017, 05:39 PM
+1, my chrome was gone in the tail lights. I used the "chrome" rattle can. I sprayed every area (even where some of the chrome still was) so the amount of reflectivity is the same across the entire area of the tail light
Posted by: Spoke Dec 13 2017, 04:36 PM
On the Triumph Experience website, a TR6 owner found a good way to cost effectively "re-chrome" the reflectors. In his words:
I used the Avery chrome vinyl film on the exterior light reflectors to enhance the brightness of the bulbs.
Posted by: Krieger Dec 13 2017, 08:30 PM
On the Triumph Experience website, a TR6 owner found a good way to cost effectively "re-chrome" the reflectors. In his words:
I used the Avery chrome vinyl film on the exterior light reflectors to enhance the brightness of the bulbs.
Wow! The best results I've seen. I did the aluminum reflective had tape and it turned out pretty good.
Posted by: 914 RZ-1 Dec 13 2017, 10:13 PM
Thanks for all the replies! So it appears I can use some sort of chrome tape or paint.
What about cleaning it beforehand? Is dish soap and water okay?
Posted by: forrestkhaag Dec 17 2017, 11:47 AM
In my case, I used Harbor Freight Tools chrome "HVAC" duct tape. Front and back buckets / The same product is available at Home Depot etc. and has returned the interior of each fixture to a very bright reflective surface and is Windex-wipe-cleanable, desert heat doable, and down right seeable.
At the time, I replaced the seals with 914 Rubber seals and have never opened them up again in three years of almost daily driving.
Sidebar: As I was driving home at dusk yesterday along PCH a blue 914-4 passed me up on the #3 lane in Newport Beach headed south then up Newport Coast road. By the time he was 500 feet ahead of me, his rear panel was but a squint-inkling of candle power light. That car needs a bucket-job and thy right soon!
Peace to all in the Christmas Season
Attached image(s)
Posted by: mepstein Dec 17 2017, 12:28 PM
Buy some of Spoke’s LED lights. Much brighter than stock and run cooler so they are better for wires and lens
Posted by: forrestkhaag Dec 18 2017, 11:46 AM
Good suggestion: Do you have a prefered source and are the LED versions plug-n-play?
Posted by: clapeza Dec 18 2017, 12:22 PM
Spoke's boards are "plug and play" inasmuch as they plug right into the existing bulb sockets, but they are boards of an array of high-intensity LEDs. They far out perform any simple bulb-replacement LED. They take the reflector out of the equation - they fill the entire lens area with LEDs.
They are here: https://www.spokeworksled.com/914-led-solutions
...and he's running a sale right now!
I have them in my 914 and in my 911, and they are brilliant, in every sense of the word.
Posted by: mepstein Dec 18 2017, 12:57 PM
Spoke's boards are "plug and play" inasmuch as they plug right into the existing bulb sockets, but they are boards of an array of high-intensity LEDs. They far out perform any simple bulb-replacement LED. They take the reflector out of the equation - they fill the entire lens area with LEDs.
They are here: https://www.spokeworksled.com/914-led-solutions
...and he's running a sale right now!
I have them in my 914 and in my 911, and they are brilliant, in every sense of the word.
Outstanding product and customer service and you are supporting a vendor that supports 914’s.
Posted by: BillC Dec 18 2017, 05:24 PM
Spoke's boards are "plug and play" inasmuch as they plug right into the existing bulb sockets, but they are boards of an array of high-intensity LEDs. They far out perform any simple bulb-replacement LED. They take the reflector out of the equation - they fill the entire lens area with LEDs.
They are here: https://www.spokeworksled.com/914-led-solutions
...and he's running a sale right now!
I have them in my 914 and in my 911, and they are brilliant, in every sense of the word.
Outstanding product and customer service and you are supporting a vendor that supports 914’s.
+1 I have a full set of Spoke's lights on my car.
Posted by: aharder Dec 18 2017, 06:11 PM
Spoke's boards are "plug and play" inasmuch as they plug right into the existing bulb sockets, but they are boards of an array of high-intensity LEDs. They far out perform any simple bulb-replacement LED. They take the reflector out of the equation - they fill the entire lens area with LEDs.
They are here: https://www.spokeworksled.com/914-led-solutions
...and he's running a sale right now!
I have them in my 914 and in my 911, and they are brilliant, in every sense of the word.
Outstanding product and customer service and you are supporting a vendor that supports 914’s.
+1 I have a full set of Spoke's lights on my car.
I have front and rear and I think they are great !!Powered by Invision Power Board (http://www.invisionboard.com)
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