Rear light cover removal

[biper]

Hi Chaps
I am planning on doing some work on the chim this weekend and part of that is the removal of one of the rear light covers/perspex
Do you think it would come off with some heat from say a hair dryer and a modeling knife. For some reason the inside is tarnished perhaps due to water.
So want to take it off and reseal.
Any thoughts if this is the way to go about it or any other suggestions would be greatly received.
Many thanks
biper

[live_the_dream]

I used a small snap off blade type knife for mine so I could have a long flexible blade, discovered the lens was chamfered at quite a sharp angle when I got it off so you can put the blade in at about 45 degrees, the lenses are easily cracked and chipped so take your time.

I used Black Humbrol modelling paint to redo the black border that had pealed off(this didn’t seem to take too well but it’s lasted two years and still looks good and sealed) make sure you mask it or it will look pants and sikaflex to stick it back on.

[Benjaminpalma]

live_the_dream said:

I used a small snap off blade type knife for mine so I could have a long flexible blade, discovered the lens was chamfered at quite a sharp angle when I got it off so you can put the blade in at about 45 degrees, the lenses are easily cracked and chipped so take your time.

I used Black Humbrol modelling paint to redo the black border that had pealed off(this didn’t seem to take too well but it’s lasted two years and still looks good and sealed) make sure you mask it or it will look pants and sikaflex to stick it back on.

I've wondered about this. I use Sikaflex from time to time on my boat. And it's utterly permanent. So what do you do the second time around - or do yo just hope for the best?

If you're using Sikaflex, by the way, get the black UV-resistant type, and remember that it cleans off easily with white spirit. Until it's set... then nothing will shift it.

[biper]

Thanks for the quick replies, do you think that heating it would make the job any easier? Or is it best to do it cold so that you can get a cleaner cut.
biper

[bigdods]

live_the_dream said:

I used a small snap off blade type knife for mine so I could have a long flexible blade, discovered the lens was chamfered at quite a sharp angle when I got it off so you can put the blade in at about 45 degrees, the lenses are easily cracked and chipped so take your time.

I used Black Humbrol modelling paint to redo the black border that had pealed off(this didn’t seem to take too well but it’s lasted two years and still looks good and sealed) make sure you mask it or it will look pants and sikaflex to stick it back on.

Same here, just dig the blade right in at 45 deg angle and slowly slowy work around the lens. I had already removed the light cluster so once cut I just pushed the lens out from inside. Make sure you seal around the gap between the light cluster and bodywork before refitting the outer lens.

[earbiscuits]

Hi Fellows ~
Just bought my first TVR, a Chimera, a month ago and need to replace a rear bulb. Handbook says 'press tab levers and open the back of the unit' but I'm not sure where they are or what this means. The rear covers seem to be silicon-ed in place. Can someone advise if It's just me being dense before I start cutting into the Silicone ?

[Yex 450]

There should be two carpet pieces shaped and covering the rear of the lights in the boot. These are held on with Velcro in my one and the release pins are easy to see when the velcroed bits are taken off.

[BeastMaster]

Hi - Just a thought, but if its just the inside of the lens cover that needs cleaning perhaps taking out the light cluster from inside the boot will give you access to clean the inside. The light cluster needs careful handling, is held onto studs with nuts and washers, the studs are glassed into the bodywork. This will be better than removing the lens as it is a time consuming job to cut out the sealing and reseal without making it look a mess.

Andy