Tail Light Lens Alignment/Fit, Am I missing a seal? |
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Tail Light Lens Alignment/Fit, Am I missing a seal? |
FlacaProductions |
Apr 13 2019, 02:16 PM
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#1
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,555 Joined: 24-November 17 From: LA Member No.: 21,628 Region Association: Southern California |
On my new-to-me 74, the rear tail light lenses don't seem to fit tight. They don't snug up on the inboard/reverse light section. Could they have been installed without a seal or without the proper (thick enough) seal?
I'm away from the car for a few weeks but working through issues that I noticed when it was delivered and I had about 48 hours with it - documented a number of them but didn't get the opportunity to pop the lenses off. They are euro amber/red signals - in great shape but not sure of their origin.... (the pic seems to exaggerated the gap - it's not nearly as wide as it appears, but it clearly doesn't run parallel with the body) Thanks! b |
mepstein |
Apr 13 2019, 02:34 PM
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#2
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914-6 GT in waiting Group: Members Posts: 19,239 Joined: 19-September 09 From: Landenberg, PA/Wilmington, DE Member No.: 10,825 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
Does the lense say "Hella" ?
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dr914@autoatlanta.com |
Apr 13 2019, 02:36 PM
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#3
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 7,817 Joined: 3-January 07 From: atlanta georgia Member No.: 7,418 Region Association: None |
should be a seal on the lens itself, and because the segments are glued together and the old assemblies warp over time, it always takes some time to fit the lenses, we usually put them on carefully and then tap them as we snug the nuts one at a time it was a bad design by hella to glue three segments together. Often we would get new factory sets already in pieces in the box as the gluing did not last. Hold the nut in the tight position the tap the lens and as you tap the nut will snug. again make sure that there is a gasket on the lens and where the lens fits to the trough of the tail light body it is clean of debris
On my new-to-me 74, the rear tail light lenses don't seem to fit tight. They don't snug up on the inboard/reverse light section. Could they have been installed without a seal or without the proper (thick enough) seal? I'm away from the car for a few weeks but working through issues that I noticed when it was delivered and I had about 48 hours with it - documented a number of them but didn't get the opportunity to pop the lenses off. They are euro amber/red signals - in great shape but not sure of their origin.... (the pic seems to exaggerated the gap - it's not nearly as wide as it appears, but it clearly doesn't run parallel with the body) Thanks! b |
914Sixer |
Apr 13 2019, 02:39 PM
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#4
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 8,870 Joined: 17-January 05 From: San Angelo Texas Member No.: 3,457 Region Association: Southwest Region |
Not unusual to find the lens are starting to bow out. I have noticed that on the 75 The way the lens mount cause the problem.
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Chi-town |
Apr 13 2019, 02:45 PM
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#5
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 850 Joined: 31-August 18 From: Disneyland Member No.: 22,446 Region Association: Southern California |
They do that it they're over tightened also
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FlacaProductions |
Apr 13 2019, 07:33 PM
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#6
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,555 Joined: 24-November 17 From: LA Member No.: 21,628 Region Association: Southern California |
OK - I'll check em when I'm back with the car - not sure if they are HELLA or otherwise. That may/may not be part of the issue but they are in good shape.
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Chi-town |
Apr 13 2019, 07:37 PM
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#7
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 850 Joined: 31-August 18 From: Disneyland Member No.: 22,446 Region Association: Southern California |
If you need a set of Hella lenses let me know
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rudedude |
Apr 13 2019, 08:22 PM
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#8
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 508 Joined: 1-January 05 From: minneapolis, mn Member No.: 3,387 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
There were some lenses made a few years back, not hella, that did not fit very well.
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Mikey914 |
Apr 14 2019, 01:08 PM
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#9
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The rubber man Group: Members Posts: 12,638 Joined: 27-December 04 From: Hillsboro, OR Member No.: 3,348 Region Association: None |
What brand are they?
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rudedude |
Apr 14 2019, 05:56 PM
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#10
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 508 Joined: 1-January 05 From: minneapolis, mn Member No.: 3,387 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
The ones that fit less than desirable are AUATL my hella fit perfect
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FlacaProductions |
Apr 14 2019, 10:27 PM
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#11
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,555 Joined: 24-November 17 From: LA Member No.: 21,628 Region Association: Southern California |
I'm away from the car until memorial day-ish so I'll check the brand then!
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FlacaProductions |
May 22 2019, 08:43 PM
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#12
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,555 Joined: 24-November 17 From: LA Member No.: 21,628 Region Association: Southern California |
Circling back to update this as I'm back with the car - these are AUATL versions. The fit is not good. There is a seal present and in good shape but the angle of the bend seems to just be wrong...I guess replacements go on the list.
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FlacaProductions |
May 29 2019, 03:19 PM
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#13
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,555 Joined: 24-November 17 From: LA Member No.: 21,628 Region Association: Southern California |
I have confirmed that I have the AUATL-stamped units.
I picked up a set of the US-config versions from Sierra Madre today but won't have a chance to actually check the fit until July. I hope it's better - and if it is, I'll have a set of the AUATL Euro versions for sale...for what that's worth. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) |
raynekat |
May 29 2019, 04:41 PM
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#14
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,154 Joined: 30-December 14 From: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Member No.: 18,263 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
Keep us posted on the fit of the US lens.
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jmitro |
May 29 2019, 06:41 PM
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#15
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 713 Joined: 23-July 15 From: Oklahoma Member No.: 18,986 Region Association: None |
i bought repro lenses from another vendor and the fit is not good either. I figure it's just the way it is
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FlacaProductions |
May 29 2019, 08:23 PM
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#16
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,555 Joined: 24-November 17 From: LA Member No.: 21,628 Region Association: Southern California |
After going down the wormhole on these AUATL units, I'm just hoping I have one of the "early" iterations that are known to have a really bad fit. (and wow...what a thread THAT is...)
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porschetub |
May 30 2019, 02:27 PM
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#17
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 4,697 Joined: 25-July 15 From: New Zealand Member No.: 18,995 Region Association: None |
Not unusual to find the lens are starting to bow out. I have noticed that on the 75 The way the lens mount cause the problem. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) my euro Hella ones have done that but not as much and seem to still seal but not happy with them. Too chicken to try heating and bending them in as they are in pretty good condition...need to practice on a broken one if I had one (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) . |
dcecc1968 |
May 30 2019, 02:42 PM
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#18
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Member Group: Members Posts: 251 Joined: 31-December 12 From: Concord, NC Member No.: 15,313 Region Association: South East States |
I bought a set of aftermarket lenses from a reputable vendor that had fitment issues like you talk about..... sent them back for another set... ended up with the same fitment issues. The nature of aftermarket. I've seen other threads mentioning the same issues.
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Mikey914 |
May 31 2019, 08:50 AM
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#19
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The rubber man Group: Members Posts: 12,638 Joined: 27-December 04 From: Hillsboro, OR Member No.: 3,348 Region Association: None |
The reputable vendor got them from Sierra Madre. They were from the same molds that AA used this last round. We had brought these in to try to support the production of a part that was being made. We did not make them. But it looks like we might have to as the there's nothing on the market that really fits well.
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dr914@autoatlanta.com |
May 31 2019, 09:51 AM
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#20
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 7,817 Joined: 3-January 07 From: atlanta georgia Member No.: 7,418 Region Association: None |
between the old warped bodies and the fact that the lights are glued in segments, alignment is difficult when fitting different lenses to old tail light bodies. Make sure you have the pillowed white or black gasket, then install the lens, and put the white nuts on loosely. Then hold the nut in the tight position and tap the lens with the palm of your hand letting the movement of the lens tighten the nut. Do this in an x pattern and that will let the lens move and snug to the body
On my new-to-me 74, the rear tail light lenses don't seem to fit tight. They don't snug up on the inboard/reverse light section. Could they have been installed without a seal or without the proper (thick enough) seal? I'm away from the car for a few weeks but working through issues that I noticed when it was delivered and I had about 48 hours with it - documented a number of them but didn't get the opportunity to pop the lenses off. They are euro amber/red signals - in great shape but not sure of their origin.... (the pic seems to exaggerated the gap - it's not nearly as wide as it appears, but it clearly doesn't run parallel with the body) Thanks! b |
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