Tips or Tricks for replacing instrument panel bulbs

[Keith R.]

Does anyone have a tip or trick for inserting the instrument panel bulbs in a C1? I spent all day getting the instrument cluster assembled, secured to the dash, routed the dash harness. I thought that snapping the instrument panel bulb housings into the cluster would be a piece of cake - WRONG!! I can get the bulb and housing into position but there's just not enough leverage to get it to snap into place. Does anyone have a solution for getting these in place?

[Richard M.]

Re: Tips or Tricks for replacing instrument panel bulbs

Keith,

Originals should easily pop right in. If you're using a reproduction harness, I feel your pain.

In some cases, I've had to use a long screwdriver and use it as a lever. I recall I may have used another trick tool too. I have these long reach needle nose pliers. The tips allow you to get even pressure on the lip of the socket. Even then it's still a pain. Another 5 minute job takes a hour.

Repro sockets(both wiring vendors I use) are hard to get installed. I actually broke a NOS #257 Flasher bulb on a recent '62. I had to get a repro harness. The socket was impossible to click in the hole. I tried bending the snap flaps a bit. Nope. I ended up cutting the socket off and used original, after cutting a soldering the wire contact. Fit perfect.

Rich

[Terry D.]

Re: Tips or Tricks for replacing instrument panel bulbs

Agree with Richard, but I made a tool after wrestling with a friends after market harness. I used a small piece of plastic tubing, cut a slit to slid over wire and used it to push socket in place. The tubing has to fit the lip of the socket

[Keith R.]

Re: Tips or Tricks for replacing instrument panel bulbs

Another tip I ran across from Dennis Ambrose in the Forum is to use a flare nut wrench to push it on. I have a 14mm that fits perfectly and I'll give that a try. BTW, I measured the OEM and replacement sockets and the part of the reproduction that snaps into the panel measures within a couple of thousands of an inch of the originals.

[Keith R.]

Re: Tips or Tricks for replacing instrument panel bulbs

Just a quick update for those struggling with inserting dash bulb sockets in a tight working space - the 14mm offset flare wrench worked like a charm. I had them snapped in within a minute each with little trouble.

[Bob W.]

Re: Tips or Tricks for replacing instrument panel bulbs

Keith Thanks for the tip.

Bob