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malcolm2
Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2011
Posts: 1272
Location: Mount Juliet, TN
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 Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2019 2:37 pm Post subject: Headlight is not centered |
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Man there a so many pieces to the headlight adjustment assembly. Funny thing is NONE OF THEM ARE ADJUSTABLE. The only adjustment I see is for the headlight direction.
This thing is so out of whack, I can't get the outer ring on.
Any ideas????
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My Toys: '75 Porsche 914, '92 Ski Nautique and now a 1972 VW Transporter Deluxe (punch list fixing) |
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busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51149
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2019 4:07 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight is not centered |
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How about a pic with the ring out of the way?
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Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
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malcolm2
Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2011
Posts: 1272
Location: Mount Juliet, TN
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| Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2019 8:23 am Post subject: Re: Headlight is not centered |
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| busdaddy wrote: |
| How about a pic with the ring out of the way? |
OK. Here are a few with the HL and the empty bucket.
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My Toys: '75 Porsche 914, '92 Ski Nautique and now a 1972 VW Transporter Deluxe (punch list fixing) |
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skills@eurocarsplus
Samba Peckerhead
Joined: January 01, 2007
Posts: 16879
Location: sticksville, ct.
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| Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2019 8:31 am Post subject: Re: Headlight is not centered |
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aftermarket basket? looks like it.
having said that...even the real deal hella baskets (by real deal, I mean as they left the factory) are kind of out to lunch in terms of being 100% centered, but those look to be way off.
do you have originals to try?
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| gprudenciop wrote: |
my reason for switching to subaru is my german car was turning chinese so i said fuck it and went japanese....... |
| Jake Raby wrote: |
| Thanks for the correction. I used to be a nice guy, then I ruined it by exposing myself to the public. |
| Brian wrote: |
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malcolm2
Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2011
Posts: 1272
Location: Mount Juliet, TN
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| Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2019 9:07 am Post subject: Re: Headlight is not centered |
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Just now, I dug up the rusty ones out from under the house... never throw anything away, til you are done with a restoration.....
anyway. the new shiney one has a tab at 2 o'clock like this one. But I had to grind the new one off to get 2 out of 3 hold down screws in. This one also has the tab, and it is tuff to see with the black POR in the back ground, but the tab is not touching the bucket, even has a bit of clearance. moving the bracket over about 1/8". Might be enough to get the ring on. But still won't be centered.
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busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51149
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2019 9:37 am Post subject: Re: Headlight is not centered |
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Out of curiosity, is the mounting ring on the new one parallel with the face of the glass all the way around when viewed from the side?, if it's adjusted (aimed) to point off towards the left ditch the ring won't fit.
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
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malcolm2
Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2011
Posts: 1272
Location: Mount Juliet, TN
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| Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2019 10:21 am Post subject: Re: Headlight is not centered |
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I thought I had both adjustment screws at their midpoints. I will double check that tho.
EDIT: they are both about mid way.
I installed the old rusty shell in the pic above. Mounted the adjustment bracket and HL and the trim ring still will not go on.
Are all BayWindow Headlight carriers the same? Maybe there is a late style from a 79 that would do better?
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My Toys: '75 Porsche 914, '92 Ski Nautique and now a 1972 VW Transporter Deluxe (punch list fixing) |
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malcolm2
Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2011
Posts: 1272
Location: Mount Juliet, TN
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| Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2019 2:05 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight is not centered |
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Link
Here is a video of my 1st idea for a solution. The long clip on the right side of the bucket gives me enough meat to tek screw or similar the carrier to the bucket clip.
Seems logical.
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skills@eurocarsplus
Samba Peckerhead
Joined: January 01, 2007
Posts: 16879
Location: sticksville, ct.
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| Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2019 3:25 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight is not centered |
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| malcolm2 wrote: |
Are all BayWindow Headlight carriers the same? |
yes.
do you have the correct "bus only" headlight rings? bus have the drain hole on the bottom, beetle have none
like I said, the just kind of don't center. I wouldn't tec screw anything. IF anything you could futz with the hook on the body and/or the trim ring.
all of my buses with OE buckets and hella H4's "scrape" a tiny bit installing the ring when I have the headlights adjusted where I want them
_________________
| gprudenciop wrote: |
my reason for switching to subaru is my german car was turning chinese so i said fuck it and went japanese....... |
| Jake Raby wrote: |
| Thanks for the correction. I used to be a nice guy, then I ruined it by exposing myself to the public. |
| Brian wrote: |
| Also the fact that people are agreeing with Skills, it's a turn of events for samba history |
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malcolm2
Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2011
Posts: 1272
Location: Mount Juliet, TN
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| Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2019 6:34 am Post subject: Re: Headlight is not centered |
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| skills@eurocarsplus wrote: |
| malcolm2 wrote: |
Are all BayWindow Headlight carriers the same? |
yes.
do you have the correct "bus only" headlight rings? bus have the drain hole on the bottom, beetle have none
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Yes. My rings do have the tiny hole in the btm. The ring is not the problem. It goes on fine without the HL assembly attached. The rings are just the result of the problem.
Even tho I have already spent $70 on these crappy carriers, I put a WTB ad out there and got lots of replies. Now I need to find the supplier that actually has 45 year old OEM carriers and give them a shot.
However, I believe these rusty ones are OEM and they don't fit either. So I may have to go with the tek screw or drill and tap method. From the video, you can see that it is just a matter of attachment.
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Suomi_bus*818
Samba Member
Joined: December 18, 2019
Posts: 1
Location: Düsseldorf, Germany
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| Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 12:51 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight is not centered |
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I had/still have the same problem. So I tried different carriers. Old and new. I even bought new rings (plastic and metal) just to find out that they are not the reason for my problem.
Then I compared different buses at a meet. It seems that many buses have the same issue.
I think Im going to modify my carrier. Might be the only solution.
Erik
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malcolm2
Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2011
Posts: 1272
Location: Mount Juliet, TN
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| Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 2:13 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight is not centered |
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Thanks to all that replied to my WTB ad, but even rusty OEM carriers cost too much to "try". Plus I have a set of rusty OEM ones.
those look like mine for sure. I could not even get the ring on. I don't care so much about the look of having a 3/8" gap, but I want the ring to attach.
Basically, modifying the carrier or the tabs welded to the bucket seems to be the only way.
Welding new tabs will be risky and lots of work. So kinda like my video shows, just attach 1 factory screw, rotate the carrier inside the ring, til you get it like yo u want it, then tek screw the carrier to the large tab in the middle.
Gonna see what the smallest tek screw that home depot has and try it tonight.
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My Toys: '75 Porsche 914, '92 Ski Nautique and now a 1972 VW Transporter Deluxe (punch list fixing) |
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skills@eurocarsplus
Samba Peckerhead
Joined: January 01, 2007
Posts: 16879
Location: sticksville, ct.
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| Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 3:19 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight is not centered |
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dude...
put them in and slam the ring over. like I said, and the photos confirm, that is how they seem to fit.
_________________
| gprudenciop wrote: |
my reason for switching to subaru is my german car was turning chinese so i said fuck it and went japanese....... |
| Jake Raby wrote: |
| Thanks for the correction. I used to be a nice guy, then I ruined it by exposing myself to the public. |
| Brian wrote: |
| Also the fact that people are agreeing with Skills, it's a turn of events for samba history |
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malcolm2
Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2011
Posts: 1272
Location: Mount Juliet, TN
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| Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 4:07 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight is not centered |
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| skills@eurocarsplus wrote: |
dude...
put them in and slam the ring over. like I said, and the photos confirm, that is how they seem to fit. |
No. 1. The ring will not seat enough for the 1 screw to hit the threads. If the screw was long enough, then "maybe".
2. Once I get it running, I will need to adjust the headlight. It would not adjust if the ring is slammed.
Sorry, some things I would prefer to be closer to "GOOD" than "IT WILL WORK".
If no one has an answer, I will forge ahead on my own and report back. 
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My Toys: '75 Porsche 914, '92 Ski Nautique and now a 1972 VW Transporter Deluxe (punch list fixing) |
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SGKent 
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 41031
Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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| Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 4:36 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight is not centered |
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I'd be looking at the area on the side opposite where the screw goes to see what keeps the ring from sliding more towards the side with the screw.
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malcolm2
Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2011
Posts: 1272
Location: Mount Juliet, TN
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| Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 4:50 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight is not centered |
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| SGKent wrote: |
| I'd be looking at the area on the side opposite where the screw goes to see what keeps the ring from sliding more towards the side with the screw. |
The headlight is way too far to the right. The ring hits the headlight. The ring is designed to surround the headlight and cover the gap between the HL and edge of the bucket.
THe carrier touches the inside of the bucket on the right.... leaving a huge gap on the left.
The reason all this is happening is either the carrier does not have holes in the right place or the factory worker did not weld the tabs inside the bucket in the right place, or both. Seems to me, it would have been super easy for the VW guys to build a rig to insert into the bucket, leaving only room enough to weld the tabs in... PERIOD. When they are done, everything fits as designed.
Then some chinese joker started making carriers with holes in the wrong place. and this is where we all ended up.
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My Toys: '75 Porsche 914, '92 Ski Nautique and now a 1972 VW Transporter Deluxe (punch list fixing) |
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SGKent
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 41031
Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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| Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 5:59 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight is not centered |
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then park the bus further to the right...........
My suggestion is take the headlight out, and the removable portion of the bucket. Study the parts, Then adjust the tabs, holes etc, to get the bucket closer to where you need it to go. You might be able to bend the inner tab and elongate the holes on the removable bucket to center it better. I seem to recall there is some play in how the light sits in the bucket too.
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