View Full Version : adjusting headlight screws don't thread
AA-ron
04-09-2023, 07:32 AM
Hello everyone, and happy Easter.
I was testing fitting my head lights on my roadster prepping for paint when I realized that the headlight adjusting screws (the ones with the slotted head to accept the bulb flange) don't have anything to thread into. They just drop right through the hole in the plastic bucket. According to the manual, they should thread into these holes. Any thoughts? are there supposed to be threaded inserts in the plastic?
Jeff Kleiner
04-09-2023, 09:02 AM
Odd, I have never encountered buckets that don’t accept the screws. Just to be sure—they go into the 12 o’clock and 9 o’clock position when viewed from the front (same position that has the lugs on the backside that engages with the body.
Jeff
AA-ron
04-09-2023, 11:46 AM
Yep, I'm definitely in the right hole with the screws. It's almost like the threaded inserts never got molded into the plastic bucket. Or, the holes are just too large and the screws aren't able to thread into them. They literally, drop right through. See the attached pictures. I guess my best course of action would be to get some threaded inserts to match those screws and melt them into the back side of the plastic bosses. Thoughts?
182732
Jeff Kleiner
04-09-2023, 12:27 PM
I’m pretty sure that there aren’t inserts and those holes in the buckets are just threaded. Can you see in there? Either way though, what you have isn’t working. There are a few different sizes of those headlight adjusting screws…maybe you can find something in a size that won’t go through the hole (maybe #10 rather than #8 or whatever) and then tap the plastic to match. I think I’ve seen them in the “help” small parts section at the parts stores.
Good luck!
Jeff
Windsor
04-09-2023, 03:00 PM
If worse gets to worst, find the thread size/pitch of your screws and buy some heat inserts from McMaster-Carr.
https://www.mcmaster.com/heat-inserts/ -- available sizes along with bore size, you'll need to widen the hole a touch to accept the heat set.
JohnK
04-09-2023, 05:16 PM
I'd just call FFR and explain the problem and have them send you a new pair of plastic buckets.