Morris Minor Owners Club

The attached pic shows my new side lamps kit purchased years ago from esm. My concern is that the rubber does not hold the glass lens in place firmly enough to withstand the driving shocks. your views on how to fix this please

Does the rubber have a lip over the lens bezel or does the bezel clip into the metal holder?

The bezel should be firmly held in place by a lip on the rubber boot. Something not quite right with the modern repro's, I guess......

myoldjalopy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 18, 2020 7:28 am The bezel should be firmly held in place by a lip on the rubber boot. Something not quite right with the modern repro's, I guess......

I agree that the reproduction parts might not be quite correct. However, on my car which still has the original Lucas lights, the lens is held firmly by the metal bulbholder NOT the rubber.

Thank you for confirming that 'ManyMinors'.......I suspect many are held in place by rust!

My '55 Basil has the latter 61-63 version, so I've no experience of the ones he should have.
Looking at the ones available, what's the purpose of the 2 little tabs on the back plate? Does that lock the Lens ring in place?

https://www.morrisminor.org.uk/parts/57 ... lder-early

esm just confirmed that the rubbers I have are incorrect They are sorting out some correct rubbers for me! hope for the best!!! thank you all for your replies!!

jagnut66 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 18, 2020 6:51 pm My original bezels sit snugly in their new rubbers, if I remove them the lenses come out as well........
I have to admit I have never heard of the lamp bases securing the lenses of a sidelight in place before............
Best wishes,
Mike.

Well, that is what I thought, and I've never seen a manual or repair book that refers to the lamp bases securing the lenses either. They always refer to peeling back the rubber edge and simply removing the lens. I had to re-fit all mine about five years ago and my (failing?) memory tells me that the rubber lip was, indeed, the method of securing the lenses - but 'ManyMinors' emphatic statement has cast a shadow of doubt upon this.

I am talking specifically about the original Lucas L489 sidelamps and not the later, larger L488 type.
The picture below should show the 2 tabs described by geoberni which are part of the base/bulbholder. The lens/bezel assembly should be clipped over these and then retained firmly by a tight push fit of the rim around the light base. The rubber surround also plays a part but the bezel can be firmly attached to the base.

This second picture shows the lens/bezel attached to the base and hung upside down by the wire cable. The bezel is very firmly attached to the base and cannot fall off. It requires a good pull to remove it by releasing it on the opposite side to the 2 tabs.

Lastly, this picture is of the correct original rubber. It has a small lip which covers the bezel but it doesn't really secure it firmly. Even when these rubbers perish, the bezel should be held by the lamp base. I am fortunate that my car still has the original lights fitted in good condition. My guess is that the reproduction ones available as described at the top of this thread are not quite accurate?

Thank you for the illustrations, 'ManyMinors' - your case is very convincing! The picture at the top of this thread appears to show at least one tab, and the image in 'geobernie's link definately shows two. I wonder if my lamps have them - and whether the 'beehive' type of orange lenses, primarily used on travellers, but also as aftermarket flasher lamps often used back in the day to replace/compliment trafficators, also have these tabs?
And, of course, it is possible that some repro parts may have been made at some point without them?

The later Lucas L488 (flat glass) and L594 "beehive" lights do not have the tabs. For these lamps, the metal base doesn't secure the lens or bezel at all. The rubber has much more of a lip which does indeed hold the lens more securely and then a bright metal rim is added to a second groove in the rubber to finally secure everything.

My original sidelights were replaced many moons ago and instead of having two tabs only had one larger tab which secured the bezel to the base very firmly. The rubber boot is there to provide some weatherproofing.
I modified my bulb holders to allow fitting of a stoplamp bulb with the 21w filament used for an indicator.

Alan

ManyMinors wrote: ↑Thu Mar 19, 2020 2:35 pm The later Lucas L488 (flat glass) and L594 "beehive" lights do not have the tabs. For these lamps, the metal base doesn't secure the lens or bezel at all. The rubber has much more of a lip which does indeed hold the lens more securely and then a bright metal rim is added to a second groove in the rubber to finally secure everything.

The differences between these lights may explain the source of my confusion - thank you for your most 'illuminating' responses