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MG MGA - Headlight chrome rim install

I am having trouble fitting the chrome rim around my headlight to get it to cover all the gasket and distance to the body of fender. Do I have the thing put together correctly? (see images)
Harley


Harley Johansen

Another picture.


Harley Johansen

Yes, all correct assembly. Just need to push the outer trim ring on a little farther (with vigor). Possibly one of the chrome rings is out of round. Maybe try fitting the outer ring forward or backward without the rubber dust seal.
Barney Gaylord

I don't want to be a pessimist but have you had body repairs carried out around your headlamp following a front end scrape? If the work hasn't been done carefully then the seating region for the ring might not be flat.

I would first check whether your ring is perfectly flat and, if it is, offer it up to the wing (preferably after removing the other bits in the area. Keep your fingers crossed and pray hard that the wing surrounding the hole is also flat.......Mike
m.j. moore

Harley

I had the same problem but managed to get the rims on by screwing the adjusters for the lamp in further. It was easier without the rubber seal but I did manage to get it all together in the end with the seals.
John Francis

Harley, as Barney says, it does need a little vigor. You need to spring the chrome trim over the lower part of the headlamp fixing ring. Push down firmly on the top of the rim with the palm of one hand, and use the fingers of the other hand to work the lower inside edge of the trim over the headlamp holding ring. It's easier to do than try to explain, but they can be a fiddle sometimes. A lot depends on how your headlamp is adjusted. Dont cut your fingers on the edge of the chrome trim, they can be sharp if you are using force.


Harley, just thought of a couple of things. Don't fit your trims until you have adjusted your headlights, and make sure that the rim fixing screw hole lines up exactly with the screw clip on the headlamp bowl before you spring the trim on. If it doesn't line up, you will have to take the rim off and re-fit it. It is not possible to rotate the trim once it is snapped on.
Lindsay Sampford

I bough new trim rings for my MK-II when I rebuilt it. They did not fit. I could not get them on no matter how hard I tried. They were just too small. I ended up polishing up the old ones and using them.


Ed Bell

Thanks guys for the good ideas. Two more questions:
1. is the screw at bottom of chrome ring just a sheet metal screw, or a bolt?

2. I got to thinking that it might be best to connect the wires for the headlight socket (that go through the hole in bucket) to the harness before installing the headlight bucket to the car. Is that correct order of operations?
Thanks,
HJ
Harley Johansen

Harley, it's a chrome plated raised countersunk self-tapper, or probably what you are referring to as a sheet metal screw. It is quite a big one, I can't tell you what size but I'm sure somebody can. It has to fit the bolt/clip thing that is fitted to the lug on the headlamp bowl.
Lindsay Sampford

I just fitted old chrome rings on to new lamp holders. These are the black steel "buckets" that bolt to the body. I had a devil of a job to get the rings on. Then I found that the new buckets (made in India) were oversize in diameter. I went round the flange of the bucket with a large pin punch hammering it in all the way round untill the rim fitted. Still they were a tight fit, and needed a lot of "push"!
Peter.
P. Tilbury

I had the same problem as Harley in fitting my headlight rings. I just could not get them to snap on with the new rubber and all.

I finally loosened the headlight bucket mounting nuts on the inside of the fender a few turns and the rings went on just fine. I then re-tightened the bucket nuts. That worked and looks great.

I just hope I remember what I did when I have to take the rings off.

Jim
Jim Ferguson

Jim, that is a good idea. I will try it tomorrow, then I can connect my wire harness too, which will be easier than from under fender.
thanks.
HJ
Harley Johansen

As for the screw at the bottom, I have found that it is not required. It is just there to aggravate the owner. You work and work to get the trim ring snapped in place, only to find the holes don't line up. Wither they are rotationally off or you can't quite get the bottom of the ring in far enough. Then off it comes and you try again. How many times you try before you finally give up is up to you.

This is just my experience. I think I tried 3 or 4 times before I said , and I quote, "#~(&". In 20 years and 2 cars, I never had a screw installed and never had a trim ring pop off.
Chuck Schaefer

:)) Chuck, I like 20 years. It should get me through my MGA period.
Harley
Harley Johansen

This thread was discussed between 15/12/2010 and 18/12/2010

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