Neat way to seal up front sidelight units?

[alaric]

Hi all. I'm fitting the front sidelights - basically working through the wiring from the front of the car to the back - have not got far... The original 'foam' gaskets are now brittle and useless. I've bought some 3mm thick rubber sheet from ebay to make up new gaskets. I just wondered if anyone had a neat alternative way of sealing these things up that allows them to be taken apart again easily.

All the best.

Sean.

[Elanintheforest]

Have you checked with Matty recently to see if he has the gaskets? As he's had the sidelights re-made, they must have gaskets fitted...so someone's making them!

Mark

[Timb]

I made my own out of an old inner tube, used the old perished ones as a pattern, do the job fine.

[alaric]

Two excellent suggestions. Thanks very much guys. I think I have the remains of an inner tube from where I used one before.

Regards.

Sean.

[alexblack13]

Hi Guys,
Two excellent replies as usual but..You can always buy a bit of Gasket rubber from various companies (woolies? for E.G.) even Su Millar sells it. It's a bit different to inner tube rubber in as much as it's a lot less 'squidgie' for the want of a better word. and stays put very well & cuts good too!

I can send you enough to do your lamps if you want.. Just give me your address...


Alex B....

[alaric]

Thanks for the offer Alex. I took delivery of some ebay best rubber sheet today that may be ok - a bit hard though. I'll try the inner tube idea as I've used that approach before and it worked well. I'll let you know if I need any of the stuff that you have.

All the best.

Sean.

[ppnelan]

Not sure whether you are refering to the rubber gasket between lamp & body, or to the gasket between lens & lamp? For the latter, the most effective gaskets I have seen are soft foam with a thin clear plastic 'washer'. The washer stops the inevitable lumps & bumps on the lens moulding from sticking to the foam when fitted/removed. The lenses are not very strong where the bayonet-type tabs fit, so the foam needs to be soft and the washer needs to be smooth to avoid breakages...

Anyway, after a while the lenses tend to melt since they are so small & fit close to the bulb...

Matthew

[john.p.clegg]

...not if you fit LED bulbs...

John

[ppnelan]

Go on then John, please give us more details - make, model, availability, etc...

Thanks,
Matthew

[Jason1]

Hi

I made my own from http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/pc-line-f ... 4-pdt.html

Jason

[john.p.clegg]

Matthew

It's late now ,I'll dig out the details in the morning, but they're the only LEDs I have liked, they fit the front sidelights and number plate lamps.
John

[alaric]

Hi. I didn't know there was a gasket between the lamp and body. I did check some time back, and am sure I concluded there wasn't one. I'd rather fit one though so good to hear. I was referring to the gasket that seals the lens unit to the body of the light, so the foamy gasket. Mine have shrunk and are brittle now. So a soft neoprene seems like a good idea.

I thought about using LEDs. For me that falls into one of those conversions I can do once the car is on the road.

Thanks for the help.

Sean.

[Jason1]

I didn't know there was a gasket between the lamp and body

Hi

There is not. I made the gasket between the lamp body and the lamp lens. It is shown in the Lotus Parts manual.

Jason

[rjaxe]

If you need material try these guys they stock a wide range of rubbers and foam, I found them very helpful when I needed material to refurbish my +2 heater unit.
www.foamandrubberstrip.co.uk

[john.p.clegg]

Sean,Matthew et Al


Here's the LED's,have had a good look and there's no marking on them and I can't remember where I got them from..Fleabay,China/Hong Kong rings a bell...Good Luck

John

P.S. Just noticed my sidelights are reversed,am also about to make a gasket for them (bed them in white silicone),will post piccy after if they look O.K.