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I'm getting my 55 F350 ready for state inspection. I had a left rear marker light out and the right rear was dim. I was hoping the left light was a burned out bulb....
Well it wasn't. The light and socket were so badly corroded that I couldn't get the bulb out.
Fortunately i had a NOS Yankee marker light in my stash. Then I looked at the right rear light. It too was corroded but it was grounded enough to provide a dim light. I also could not remove the bulb.
I found Yankee clearance lights with the bee hive lenses on eBay for $2.99 with $3.99 shipping. Will arrive on Saturday. I bought 1 red lens light and 2 Amber for the front marker lights which are working now but may not be in the future.
My elderly mother has a saying that I've heard her utter in disgust for many, many years. It is usually spoken when she picks up a flashlight* and the bulb is pretty dim and useless. The first time I heard her say it was when she would get pictures developed** and shake her head at some photo that the flashbulb*** had no positive effect on.
"That is about as bright as a yellow-eyed bean"
Spoiler
Spoiler
Spoiler
"That's bout as bright as a yellow-eyed bean"
* with two D-sized batteries that would leak acid and rust the contacts
**back when photos came from an envelope that you had to wait a week for
** and you had to buy those in addition to the film
Side note, if you ever wanted to see you mother chase you and your brother around the house with a heavy yardstick, play around with the flashbulbs using a paperclip and flash three of the four sides for fun to blind your sisters then put the bulbs back in the camera bag. The yardstick would come out when she had something important to take a picture of and needed at least two flashes.
Sorry Abe, when I saw that tail light of yours barely able to burn...made me laugh a bit.
What really ticks me off is that two good 6 volt bulbs will be wasted if I can't free them and get them out! If the new lights come with 12 volt bulbs I'll have to venture out to a parts store to buy some 6 volt bulbs.
Sad thing about those cheap aftermarket lights. You can bet a original Ford bulb socket wouldn't corrode like that! Abe, when you put back together use some dialectic grease in the bulb connections, it may help, but if you got ones off Ebay for 2.99 they'll prolly do it again!!
Two solutions, Abe:
1) Drill a small hole in the bottom of the lamp base to keep condensation from building up inside the lamp.
2) Install a hermetically sealed LED beehive lens.
The corrosion is caused by the dissimilar metals (brass and steel) in contact with each other in a wet environment.
Just a thought, try spraying something like PB Blaster into the light socket and let it soak a while. Maybe it will loosen them enough to remove the bulbs. WD-40 makes an aerosol spray as well to remove rusted bolts and nuts. I was shocked how well it worked the first time I tried it.
Try a bit of vinegar on those bulb holders Abe , it might just free them up .
I'll try it.
Originally Posted by fish pond
A can of grease with a small paint brush, ,paint the next assembly with grease maybe,like one might do with battery terminals.
Good luck
Greg
Will do.
Originally Posted by Greg Rogers
Sad thing about those cheap aftermarket lights. You can bet a original Ford bulb socket wouldn't corrode like that! Abe, when you put back together use some dialectic grease in the bulb connections, it may help, but if you got ones off Ebay for 2.99 they'll prolly do it again!!
They aren't cheap as to quality. The two with amber lenses are Yankee and the red one is Dietz, all good names in the lighting industry. The one I'm replacing is a Signal Stat.
Originally Posted by Mixer man
Two solutions, Abe:
1) Drill a small hole in the bottom of the lamp base to keep condensation from building up inside the lamp.
2) Install a hermetically sealed LED beehive lens.
The corrosion is caused by the dissimilar metals (brass and steel) in contact with each other in a wet environment.
The one lens already had a hole dripped into it. But it looked like it got clogged up with dirt.
Originally Posted by 1956_F100
Just a thought, try spraying something like PB Blaster into the light socket and let it soak a while. Maybe it will loosen them enough to remove the bulbs. WD-40 makes an aerosol spray as well to remove rusted bolts and nuts. I was shocked how well it worked the first time I tried it.
I can't find my PB Blaster. I used WD-40 and I know it is a water displacement not a rust eating spray and also used something made out of plant oils.... forget the name. So its been soaking for 24 hours. I'll try tonight.
But really, even though I say I'm a tight Penna Dutchman, I am half joking abouit saving the bulbs. If I can get them out , then great if not, they don't cost much. But if I can get them out it will save me a trip to the auto parts store while I am practicing social distancing....
I just got the one bulb out. Since the old socket is toast, I took a small screwdriver and prief back the rusted socket where the pins go and that loosened it up. I then put it in another socket I have with out a bracket and therefore can't use. And it works.
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