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MG MGB Technical - Removing headlights

Based on the instructions in the Haynes manual, I'm having trouble removing the chrome ring that retains the headlights on my '76 MGB. Any tips or tricks out there?
Bill
Bill Meyer

Bill. Learned a trick on this forum many years ago which works very well. Get a small, inexpensive screwdriver, heat the tip and bend it backwards. You want a small hook, nor more than 1/16" long. Slip the hook under the bottom of the headlight ring and pull forwards. Has worked like a charm. Les
Les Bengtson

I have a set of right angle screwdrivers used on old teletype machines that work very well when gripped with vice grips. The ends of these screwdrivers are about 1/16 - 3/32 inch high as Les suggests. One might find some of those in salvage sales if they looked closely in the tool bins. Good luck - Dave

P.S.
Les - Did you ever consider making a headlight rim removal tool to sell? I bet there would be a lot of people with MGBs who would be interested.
David DuBois

Thanks for the tips. I had a go at one of mine the other week and, like Bill's, it didn't want to move. The problem seemed to be that straightforward levering flexes the rim so it actually gets tighter on the lug. A tool to pull it over the lug sounds spot on, will let you know! Rich.

Rich

I use a paint can opener. I got one for free from ACE hardware when I purchased some other items to fix my house.
Kimberly

I sure wish I read this thread before I attempted to remove the chrome rings with a flat screwdriver and chipped the paint around the rings.
John

To make the removal of the ring easier in the future, smear some silicone based grease (Sil-Glide or such) on the spring latch that holds the rim in place. Dave
David DuBois

This thread was discussed on 15/05/2005

MG MGB Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGB Technical BBS is active now.