OK - How the heck do you install the H4 trimring

pryord · pryord's Garage

I have newly painted trimrings for my h4s. I have all the right screws, but I'm not smart enough to figure how to put the rings on. If I snap them onto the headlamp first, I can't get a screwdriver to the special bolt that holds the headlamp assembly onto the car. If I install the headlamp first, I can't get the ring snapped onto it because it's secured tights to the car. What gives?

THANKS

wcc · 01-12-2006, 04:37 PM

Install the trim ring on the assembly. Then snap it on the top and push it towards the bolt hole. It may not line up but use a small screw driver to line up the holes. Use a really long screw driver because on mine the bolt aimed down a little. Then bolt it in. Easy as pie....

Here is the link to the tech forum for instructions:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/mult_h4_headlamps/mult_h4_headlamps.htm

aigel · aigel's Garage

May you be missing the gasket / rubber trim that goes between the headlight and the fender? If that's in place there is plenty of room.

G

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by aigel
May you be missing the gasket / rubber trim that goes between the headlight and the fender? If that's in place there is plenty of room.

G

that's the thing i couldn't figure out on mine

i can get the ring to seat without the rubber
haven't really given it much attention , my test drives so far where all in the dry

HFR_Racer · HFR_Racer's Garage

Looks better without the gaskets IMO.

Anyone else?

p.s. I'm not driving in the rain anyway.

wcc · 01-13-2006, 03:34 AM

I don't mind the gasket. Plus I don't have to worry about it if I do get caught in the rain. Sometimes that happens. My H4s went in without a hitch.

real550A · real550A's Garage

I just received new fender seals from Pelican, and they seem so thick that the headlight ring won't "hook" on the upper tab and stay there.
Anyone had this problem?

emcdan · 01-13-2006, 07:50 AM

The seal is necessary. Mine were in pretty bad shape so I left them off of my H4s just last weekend. My luck, I caught in a thunderstorm on the way home this past Wed.

Sure enough. Pop....out went a light due to rain seepage.

If you do go without the seal, I would put a rubber boot or a couple of strips of electrical tape on the connector to the bulb to prevent moisture from taking out a bulb.

Needless to say....new seals on the way.

wcc · 01-13-2006, 08:28 AM

The light on the passenger side had that problem. What I ended up doing is slightly bending up the tab on the top. Then hooked it and swung down the assy, lined up the bolt holes and bolted it in.

Early_S_Man · 01-13-2006, 08:42 AM

The seal is critical, and can be tricky to install the first time around ...

The seal is not symmetric in cross-section, and can be installed wrong ... making headlamp installation impossible! The seal has a cross-section like a cpital letter 'L' ... and the long side of the 'L' goes in the groove in the fender. If installed wrong ... the long side sticks out too far and prevents proper installation of the headlamp assembly! Lubricating the seal with silicone spray or glycerine can be helpful, both for installing the seal, and subsequent headlamp installation.

The headlamp assembly MUST be installed into the bucket completely with the hollow screw BEFORE attempting to install the trim ring! After the headlamp assembly is secured, the trim ring can be hooked over the top edge of the headlamp ring, then, while applying force with the heel of your hand to the topmost sector of the trim ring, swing the ring down and secure with the Phillips-head screw.

The bottom line is that the trim ring must be removable and installable in order to adjust the headlamp!!!

The paintable trim rings work equally well with H1 and early '65 - '67 Hella headlamp assemblies ... I have installed them on both!

real550A · real550A's Garage

Thanks Bill and Warren-
I'll try bending the tab out just a little. I am installing the seal in the proper manner, it's just not letting me push the headlight against the fender hard enough to engage the tab.

pryord · pryord's Garage

Thanks for all the help. I finally got them on. Early-S-Man was right, you need to install the light before the trim ring. I was just being a little too wimpy about snapping them on.