Fitting Headlight Lenses in 1934 & 1935 Cars

Old Fogey UK
Old Fogey UK Expert Adviser
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Now I've been able to locate a replacement for my broken lens, I don't want to repeat the mistake I made in trying to fit it !

I know the 1934 owner's manual explains how to fit headlight these rimless lenses (which I tried to follow last time) but does anyone have any tips as to a safe and easy way of doing it ?

Comments

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    #1 Place heavy blankets or some foam rubber on the ground around and under the fender so if you drop the lense it is less likely to break......
    Beyond that I have no experience with the 30's models.
    Bob
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Amen on the blankets! And pillows, too!



    Hudson actually had a tool to assist in this ticklish operation: a suction cup with a handle on it. You might want to cruise your local hardware store to see if one exists, with the proper depth to handle the curvature of the lens.



    If the lens is as difficult to install / remove in the '34-35's as it is in the '37's, you might want to have a 3rd and 4th pair of hands handy, to squeeze the headlight shell vertically (that is, push down on the top and up on the bottom very slightly) which has the effect of widening the opening as you try to maneuver the lens out. The left and right side of the lens are supposed to clear the opening in the shell (while the top and bottom are captured by the shell). But if the opening's a bit too narrow the lens will get caught so it can't come out. Thus, squeezing on the shell with make that opening wider.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    I practiced on my 36 with the reflector removed to perfect my technique. It was a little easer to install with out the reflector springs pushing back.

    That said, it was still a pain. I swore that if a bulb ever burned out I would just stop driving at night instead of fighting that lens again.

    If you have a 35 I believe that the bucket was painted, and it chips the paint easily around the edges. I know some guys chrome them to get away from that. They went to a chrome trim ring on the 36 model to alleviate that problem.

    Good luck.
  • tigermoth
    tigermoth Expert Adviser
    the answer depends on whether you have sta-bilite or depress beam buckets. both have the lower screw, but on depress beam style i have found the screw needs to come out, on the sta-bilite the screw just needs to be loosened. once that happens i have not had any difficulty pressing the lens into the bucket slightly and simultaneously tipping the top outward. i still do the blanket or foam cushion thing too. i have been told there are certain styles of toilet plunger that may replicate the action of the hudson "tool". regards, tom
  • Old Fogey UK
    Old Fogey UK Expert Adviser
    The problem is the size of the aperture in the shell coupled with the 4 springs behind the reflector.

    The difficulty is compressing the springs whilst jiggling the lens in. It slipped out of my hands last time, bounced off the towels on the fender and bumper and landed on the cement floor of the garage.

    Thanks for all your advice. I think I'll get an extra pair of hands involved next time. My wife is refusing to get involved in case it breaks again and I come out with the kind of language I did last time !

    These headlights really are a stupid design. There was no need to make them like that, lenses with chromed surrounds that simply clipped over the shell and were then held by a screw were a much better idea and were used on most cars in the 1930's. Why did Hudson have to be different, I wonder ?

    At least my shells are chromed and won't get damaged when fitting the glass.

    When the new lenses arrive from Texas, I'll let you all know how I get on fitting them - I may even be asking for more replacements, but I hope not !!!
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