Headlight Lens Seals

[itsjustdj]

Thanks. I put the seal on the other side and it went on fine, so I think I found my issue. It seems like the flanges around the bucket are just a hair too shallow in a few areas, so the seal doesn't stay put. I'm going to try and adjust them a bit and hope I don't need to do any welding.

[OldSchoolVW's]

Funny you you ask about this today. I just took both of my headlight assemblies off today so I could run new ground wires. They went right back on with a little wiggling. The rubber seal came off while I was working on the wiring, but I put it back on and it stayed in place while I reinstalled the headlights.

Are you saying that the rubber seal seems too small to fit around the headlight bucket opening? If so, you could try heating it in the sun and applying a little stretch to it. As I mentioned above, it can be helpful to pull the raised lip on the top of the opening outward a little to accommodate the thicker new seal. This will make it easier to work the chrome bezel behind the lip and get it to seat downward.
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Tom

"Following distance is proportional to IQ."

"It's okay to think."

"If you don't do it this year, you'll be one year older when you do." Warren Miller

'63 Beetle Sedan
'69 Beetle Sunroof
'70 Beetle Sedan
'73 Type 3 Fastback

[itsjustdj]

I'm having a helluva time fitting the new outer seal onto the fender. With the flat side against the fender and the edges tucked into the grooves it seems to go okay until I'm halfway around and then the other side just comes right off. I even tried it with an extra set of hands, but we just couldn't get it to stay on there.

Is it possible it's just a poorly made seal? All the tips I read make it seem like it should go on easily and stay put.

[OldSchoolVW's]

[malachai]

Yep, that’s what I meant, I will try bending the lip a little bit but I’m a few thousand miles away from the beetle for a couple of weeks so it will be a while. So there’s not meant to be any glue holding it in place, just elasticness?
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[OldSchoolVW's]

[malachai]

Does anyone have any tips on fitting the light housing to fender seal? I’m not sure what make mine is but it just pings off and even with help I can’t get it to stay there, should it be glued? Also where did those hella seals come from that go round the lens? I might have to get some of those for when mine disintegrate
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[Jamesp76]

I can't thank you enough for having this on the web site. I washed my seal with a little dish soap and it slipped right on. Thank you!
The image cleared it all up!

[keegs]

Thanks for that image... makes it pretty clear how to attach the seal.

I've been using a 3M rubber seal conditioner product to freshen up the running board mats, the seals around the engine tins...etc. I'll try applying some of the conditioner to the headlight seal as well. Maybe it'll help it some.

[Frederik]

Correct installation of the lens seal. The ridge goes to the back of the lens towards the bucket to seal better. New Hella seals has the ridge, but I think many of the aftermarket don't have it. Last aftermarket "no name" seals I bought dried out and cracked in less than 1/2 a year so I now stay away from them.

[keegs]

Link

[Gary Haberman]

Tried putting in the headlight to fender seal and could not figure it out-then I found this thread which advised placing the smooth side toward the fender-however, by playing with the gasket for 20 minutes, I ended up stretching it so much it no longer fit-luckily I had purchased 2 (one for the other headlight) and put it in right the first time and it fit. Had to add a headlight seal to my WW list.

['69Custom]

[BruceJ]

['69Custom]

5. Tweak your aftermarket fender flange so the seal fits.

Running without a proper seal will allow for all kinds of yuckiness to invade your bucket: dust, moisture, bugs, illegal aliens... I'd also trim the seal before going without if it came down to that. You do already have it.
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1969 Frankenbug
1965 Ford Mustang
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~"I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken." ~The Boss
Please excuse any typos as my iPhone doesn't speak English very well. 

[BruceJ]

I rebuilt the headlight buckets for my '65 Beetle today. The seals that go around the lenses were a piece of cake. But the assembly to fender seals are killing me! What I've got:

1. Aftermarket fenders (I know, I know. But I do not live in California. Had to settle for what I could get).
2. Wolfsburg West seals.
3. OG assembly.

Unit fits nice, tight, and snug to fender, without the seal. But with the seal, it simply! WILL! NOT! GO!

Options, as I see them:

1. Cut seal to make it fit.
2. Run without seal.
3. Never drive in the rain.
4. Move to California.

Most practically, I'm thinking about #2. Again, the lens is sealed against the assembly properly, we're just talking about the assembly to fender seal. And I have the little rubber drain tubes in place.

Also, I found that if I tuck the seals into the assembly itself before attaching the assembly to the car, it fits nicely. But I know this isn't the right way of doing things, so this is why I'm asking -- help?

['69Custom]

[philheese]

The seals weren't a big problem, but those damn springs. The first light was a challenge, but I got it. The second, I couldn't get four to stay in the bezel, but three would stay. Hopefully three will hold it. :. Any feedback on that?

[teufelwagen]

['69Custom]