Replacing the glass in a front fog light

[4WDrifter]

Could someone guide me through how to get the glass and the plastic part separated?

[Monkeymagic]

i believe a warm oven to soften the sealant.

[4WDrifter]

What sort of temperature are we talking here?

[poor-boy]

Use a heat gun onto the glass where it joins the plastic *The glass gets very hot so watch your hands*

[Bowie69]

Yeah, 100C will do it in not much time, and you won't warp the plastic, then a blunt wide implement and lever it off around the lens.

Clean up, spray up and glue it back in with Sikaflex

[Tonks4x4]

To clean the sealer off the glass believe it or not I use a wire wheel in the bench grinder to get it off quickly. Be carful though.


Tonks4x4 - The Land Rover Specialist

[Bowie69]

Yeah I used a coarse wire brush with good effect, don't use brown scotchbright, that manages to scratch the lens(!)

[4WDrifter]

That's this weekend's task cut out. Thanks for the guidance.

[4WDrifter]

Yeah, 100C will do it in not much time, and you won't warp the plastic, then a blunt wide implement and lever it off around the lens.

Clean up, spray up and glue it back in with Sikaflex

I've just spent the last hour with the light clamped in the Black and Decker workmate, glass up, and the heat gun. I was afraid to go too hot but it was definitely in excess of 100' and not a budge! The plastic was softening but the glue still seemed quite firm.
What am I doing wrong? I thought I was just going to give them a blast and lift the glass out! All ideas appreciated.

[restricted]

put it in an oven

[poor-boy]

I've just spent the last hour with the light clamped in the Black and Decker workmate, glass up, and the heat gun. I was afraid to go too hot but it was definitely in excess of 100' and not a budge! The plastic was softening but the glue still seemed quite firm.
What am I doing wrong? I thought I was just going to give them a blast and lift the glass out! All ideas appreciated.

I have done a few sets using the method stated and it has worked everytime..

you will still need to prise the glass slightly and once it starts to detach it gets easier.

The oven will work too but the plastic will be affected quicker than the glass and seal and not sure what shape yours will end up - mine looked like melted cats until the heat gun came out.

[Bowie69]

Put it in the oven, there's no point warming just one part, it all needs to be warm before it will lever off.

I had no mishapen plastic at all when in the bottom of the Aga, which is 100C. It is too hot to handle really so have some gloves handy.

[4WDrifter]

Do I need t strip the the bulb holder out of it before putting it in the oven?

[Bowie69]

Just pulls out from behind doesn't it?

Put it this way, you would expect the plastic and anything else in there to survive dunking in a cuppa tea, so the whole unit should be fine, especially as halogen bulbs are known to give off a fair bit of heat

[poor-boy]

If you put them in the oven make sure you use a baking tray and add some spices to it not sure if they will cook right..

But yeah I would remove the bulb holder and save as much stuff off them as possible as you can use those bits for another set