Hi Jack,
I have fix at least 4 of those lights in the last year. The trick is to
take them all apart so that all you have is the ball and socket. Put the two
together and squeeze them in a bench vice so that the ball is firmly
bottomed out in the socket.
The simplest way to secure the ball, is to peen the socket edge back over
the neck of the ball mount, essentially closing the hole that the ball came
out of. The only problem with this method is that the plating on the socket
will probably flake off with the impact of peening. If you have a metal
lathe at your disposal and know how to use it, you can make a split
compression tool to press fit the socket back on to the ball like they were
when they were made. However this won't guarantee that the plating will stay
on either. It's your choice.
Happy Peening
WAM52
'66 TWLY
'63 OLLY
'56 CARLY
WDCU 2000
----- Original Message -----
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2000 8:15 AM
Subject: [VAC] Reading Lights
> Hi Gang
>
> We have a '67 Safari, and for the past several years I've just put up with
> reading lights with broken ball and socket joints. The problem is that
the
> ball won't stay in the socket, it just falls out the end the first time
you
> try to adjust the angle.
>
> Last night I decided I was smarter now, than I was a few years ago, so I
took
> them apart again hoping to fix the joints. Guess what? I'm no smarter!
>
> Does anyone know how to fix these things? Am I missing a retaining clip
> perhaps?
>
> Thanks Jack
> Klamath Falls, OR
