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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Reversing lamp lenses

I have managed to break 3 of these so far. The new ones are made of very thin plastic and are attached with two nuts and bolts. I have fitted them with the said nuts and bolts doing them up just tight enough to compress the seals a bit and not too loose that they undo. A few days later a crack appears in the lens from one of the bolt holes. Very frustrating.

Anyone experiencing this?

I'm going to end up buying some second hand ones I think.
C MADGE

Same lenses on the MGB and same problem. I just live with the cracks now.
Mike Howlett

Chris

I may have some spares. I’m away until the weekend, but I’ll check when I get back - if I don’t forget.

Maybe post a reminder at the weekend.
Dave O'Neill 2

Yes please, and thanks Dave
C MADGE

Not just me then.

NOS or s/h might last a lot better as I've found the new ones seem to crack later if not sooner. You could try a looser fit with a second locknut on each screw or you can get bling-trims which may (?) spread the stress more.

I also find one (or both, can't remember) seem to sometimes get condensation on the inside of the lenses.
Nigel Atkins

Try Andy Jennings for s/h lenses.
Greybeard

MGOC have just announced in Enjoying MG that they have new lens kits, Revesing lamp Lens 37H7512Q, "faithfully reproduced to the original design from newly commissioned tooling and featuring a chrome trim strip..." £6.95 each.

<https://www.mgocspares.co.uk/cgi-bin/ss000001.cgi?page=search&SS=37H7512Q&PR=-1&TB=O&ACTION=Go%21>

As one of my reversing light lenses has gone "cloudy" I have ordered a new pair and will report here if I have any issues with the lenses cracking like Chris has reported.
Peter Blockley

Well done Peter, be interesting to hear if they still fog up and crack around the screw holes.

Never sure about the bling trim but thought it might spread the load of the screws on the lens.
Nigel Atkins

Just seen the bling trim isn't what I thought it was - not the extra trim sheet but just a "a reflective chrome strip moulded into the plastic rim" which are similar (same?) as the ones I've previous fitted and have fog up and cracked at the screw holes - but these might be different to the ones I've had.
Nigel Atkins

No need to compress the seals to keep them from leaking. A very light application of Hylomar does the trick. Then the screws need not be tight. Another spot of Hylomar on the threads will prevent them vibrating loose.
Leave the Hylomar to go dry before assembling. It's good stuff.
Greybeard

I said I would report on the MGOC reversing light lens kits.
As Nigel rightly says they are moulded with an integral chromed plastic perimeter. I thought that was how they always were from new?
One of my existing lenses was like that and was still OKish and the other, without the chrome, had gone cloudy and almost opaque.
The biggest pain was that the screws supplied are the wrong thread (too large) for the housing which meant I had to re-use the rusty old ones.
The good news is that the lenses appear to seat well and didn't crack when tightened!
They do look better so I'm happy - but not ecstatic.
Peter Blockley

“As Nigel rightly says they are moulded with an integral chromed plastic perimeter. I thought that was how they always were from new? ”

Indeed they were.
Dave O'Neill 2

Sorry to say it might be too early to say if they crack as previous ones I've had have lasted a time before cracking and IIRC some, possibly all, were Lucas (green) boxed ones.
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 23/04/2019 and 13/05/2019

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