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MG MGB Technical - Removing Headlight Rim

Simple question, but I need to know "How do I remove the chrome headlight rims"...(1979 MGB) never had them off, and would like to "clean" around the rim to remove any old wax, dirt, etc.

Looking forward to your responses,
Thanks,
Don

Donald Wheeler

Don,

Screwdriver, piece of wood and cloth. Place cloth on painted wing metal to protect it. Then use a long thin piece of wood to give you something to push against (fulcrum) as you leaver the rim out (forwards) in 2 or three places. Making sure you dont scrape the lower part of the rim on the wing in front of the light.
Iwan Jones

Iwan,

Thanks for the procedure! I am going to "deep" clean the MGB during the next couple of days and this was the only part I had a concern about.

Drive saftey fast,
Don
Donald Wheeler

I do it a bit differently: I use a brake spoon and a shop towel. The brake spoon is bent on the ends and provides good leverage without having to bump up against the blub. Another great tool for this is the tool used to pop the door panels off with.
tom

Hey Tom,

I do not have a "complete" shop or tools, so I guess Iwan's method is what I'll do this time.

Thanks for the quick response.

Don
Donald Wheeler

A safer way is to place a screwdriver in between the rim and the light, then turn the screwdriver 180 and the rim should then pop off of the ridge that it is held on by.
This way you never touch the paint!
Good Luck
Mike
mike cook

I use one of those metal paint can openers.

It has an end that looks like a flat screwdriver - but
it has a slightly curled tip to better grip the edge
of the headlamp rim.
Daniel Wong

Daniel's paint can opener used on the very bottom of the rim to pull it straight out is the correct method to remove the rim. There is a spring catch at the bottom that allows relatively easy removal of the rim. Good luck - Dave
David DuBois

I also agree with Daniel. The paint can tool is usually free or very cheap at a Home Depot or other hardware store. I used a screwdriver before I knew of this trick and chipped the paint around the rim.
Lewis

"relatively easy" is a relative term :o)

The surfaces of the spring and rim rust, which makes the friction between them much higher than when new. So much so that you can only pull it out with much force and it wants to spring back again, and sometimes you can completely distort the spring in doing so in getting the rim off. Grease before replacement.
Paul Hunt 2

Not familiar with the paint can opener but I use a similar idea to Mike Cook. The only difference is that I heated the tip of the flat screwdriver and bent it back sharply at about 140 degrees. Put this between the lamp and the ring at the bottom and just pull the ring off.
Iain MacKintosh

I took a quality small bladed flat screwdriver(1/8" wide blade) and bent it at a 90 degree angle. I then hook it near the bottom, ouside of the chrome ring and give it one pull. I usually protect the paint with a shop rag and hold the screwdriver with pressure upward so it won't hit the paint when the ring releases.
CDD Dewey

Paul and "all" thanks for all of the procedures.

Paul, I'll follow your advise and "grease" before reinstallation.

Have a GREAT weekend! It is suppose to get to mid 60's today here in Penna.... may just put the top down and go for a spin.

Don 1979 MGB in Penna.
Donald Wheeler

This thread was discussed between 26/10/2005 and 30/10/2005

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