18 replies to this topic

[minili]

Yesterday I had a very productive Mini day (see project page) so felt I should continue the trend today.....

Was going to remove my black (grey ) number plate light housing and paint it to match the car....

Undid the 3 screws inside the boot (which were alarmingly loose lol) so the housing is no longer attached to the car but for the wiring. So all I had to do was undo the screws on the glass light covers and remove the light units thus leaving me with the bit I wanted to paint

Easy........

THINK AGAIN!

The screws look to be rusted on they are sufficiently tight that trying to undo them just meant I was stripping the cross off the screw head so I sprayed some WD40 on them and waited a bit (ok only 10 minutes) and I still can't move them at all.

Will waiting on the WD40 actually work (and if so how long?) or is there anything else that the wonderous TMF users can suggest to help me get the screws undone quickly? I don't do waiting!

[rozzer!]

Yesterday I had a very productive Mini day (see project page) so felt I should continue the trend today.....

Was going to remove my black (grey ) number plate light housing and paint it to match the car....

Undid the 3 screws inside the boot (which were alarmingly loose lol) so the housing is no longer attached to the car but for the wiring. So all I had to do was undo the screws on the glass light covers and remove the light units thus leaving me with the bit I wanted to paint

Easy........

THINK AGAIN!

The screws look to be rusted on they are sufficiently tight that trying to undo them just meant I was stripping the cross off the screw head so I sprayed some WD40 on them and waited a bit (ok only 10 minutes) and I still can't move them at all.

Will waiting on the WD40 actually work (and if so how long?) or is there anything else that the wonderous TMF users can suggest to help me get the screws undone quickly? I don't do waiting!

see minty page!

[minidan]

can you grab the heads of the screws with a pair of mole grips and undo them that way?

[adcyork]

or cut a slot in the head with a hacksaw and use a flat screwdriver if the crosshead is totally kaput.

[Steve W]

or. drill the head off, and get hold of the thread with previously mentioned mole grips!

[binge]

Tape the lenses up!

[Bluemini]

Grip the unit in a vice and knock the edge of the screw head anticlockwise with a small pointed (so it digs in) drift and hammer

[minili]

Tape the lenses up!

Thing is, I was going to do that until I realised that I had to remove them to get the housing away from the car - I don't want to spray it while it's still attached because I don't want to get any overspray on the car (obviously I'd mask the area but would rather have it all out the way)

[1984mini25]

Or disconnect the wiring connectors near the fuel tank and remove the boot lamp and wiring clear of the car so you can work on it easier.

[backstreetclassics]

some one you know must have a spare if not ill bring 1 to the ace cafe for you 2 paint along with some chrome trim for your window rubbers

[Steve W]

cut the wires off on the inside of the boot. then reconnect them when you're done with some spade connectors!

[minili]

some one you know must have a spare if not ill bring 1 to the ace cafe for you 2 paint along with some chrome trim for your window rubbers

But if I can't get the old one off.... It doesn't matter how many people have spares if the old one's still stuck on lol

But thanks for the offer! What I'm going to do is try and repaint it and then maybe for the long run get a chrome one and chrome handle set

[Ethel]

You'll still need a couple of lenses 'n bulb holders I'd think

[mk1leg]

(Undid the 3 screws inside the boot (which were alarmingly loose lol) so the housing is no longer attached to the car but for the wiring. So all I had to do was undo the screws on the glass light covers and remove the light units thus leaving me with the bit I wanted to paint)

pick up a secondhand unit or soak old unit in desil for a few days this should do the trick ..mk1leg

[backstreetclassics]

if i give you a spare with lenses you can just pull the wires of yr old one and theat way you dont have to worrie about undoing the rusty screws let me know