TR2/3/3A TR3 Headlamp Confusion TS31000 car

[luke44]

I am confused about my headlamp assembly. I think I may have the wrong gasket?. The Moss catalog shows the assembly as illustrated. But I think I may have bought an incorrect TRF gasket... p/n LU54520919 (shown on left below). So maybe my problem for starters is I need the Moss p/n 156-850 instead?

I also bought the TRF outer gasket p/n 552906. Is this the same as Moss p/n 280-120, and do I need this to finish this up? Wouldn't the gasket show around the headlight?

Can anyone shed some light on this? As always, thanks in advance.

PIC #1

PIC #2

And finally, do I have this assembled correctly? Or is the inner retaining plate inside out?

PIC #3

Like this?? And is the flat washer on top of the adjuster spring below the plate as I have it, or above the plate??

PIC #4

 

[CJD]

I'm sure someone else will know more, but the last pic looks correct to me. It looks like you even have the gasket on, as I see the rubber titty covering the end of the adjusting screw.

 

[luke44]

I'm sure someone else will know more, but the last pic looks correct to me. It looks like you even have the gasket on, as I see the rubber titty covering the end of the adjusting screw.

If you look at the picture before (pic #3) you can see it is the brass part of adjuster assembly, not the gasket. I'm actually thinking pic #3 is correct. Otherwise I can't seem to get the outer part of the retainer plate assembly (pic #2) to screw together. The other thing is the flat washer on top of the spring doesn't seem to sit right in pic #4.

 

[CJD]

I know #2 is backwards. I'm just not sure about the rubber gasket. It seems like the gasket had long titties that the adjuster screws pushed into to seal the inside of the apron. I am rusty, though, about the details.

 

[CJD]

Just went through all my pics, and this is the best I can come up with. Afraid it's still not much help!?!

 

[luke44]

I've gone ahead and ordered the Moss 156-850. When I see it that should help. The TRF gasket has only 2 tits, and I have 3 adjusters so I am pretty sure it's wrong but it's the only one TRF lists. Moss lists the same gasket for all 3 setups, so I'll have to see.

The pic above is ohh so close to what I need, but a tad blurry where I need the detail and I would need to blow it up quite a bit and even then I'm not sure if I could see the inner retaining plate orientation.

 

[HerronScott]

Bruce,

Hopefully someone else who might have a TR3 with a commission number less than TS32585 can pitch in here. It looks like the headlamp assembly changed at TS32585 as before that number the rubber gasket was part number 502211 while after it was 121780. I do see where TRF substitutes the number you bought for both and they have it listed as applicable to all TR2-6, Spitfire Mk1-3 and GT6 Mk1-2 so I wonder if this is a case where the earlier part is not being replicated and you have to make the later part work (especially if Moss lists the same part for all applications).

Scott

 

[luke44]

Yes, seems there were 3 set ups - up to 22013, then 22014 to 32584 (mine is 31577 with the 3 adjusters), and then post 32584 (2 adjusters).

I will post the pic of the Moss gasket when it comes, whether the same or different than the TRF version, which is definitely a 2 adjuster version.

 

[CJD]

Yep, mine above is post 60k, and my TR2 is definitely pre 22k, so disregard the pic. Sorry...can't help...

 

[Marvin Gruber]

Bruce
You have the early style buckets (which I like better), with the level of restoration you're doing I 'll say get the correct gaskets, otherwise I'd punch out a hole and use those.

Marv

 

[mallard]

Not sure if these will help. I could not find pictures when they were apart. As for the tits I just cut them off, you will never see it.

 

[mallard]

Well for my first attempt at posting picture that was easy, not as nice as what you posted though Bruce.

 

[luke44]

Well for my first attempt at posting picture that was easy, not as nice as what you posted though Bruce.

Hi Keith - your photos are a lot better than you may realize. The only difference is I use an external hosting site so I have a number of photo sizing options whereas yours are hosted by BCF who have to put a limit the photo size, I'm sure for server limits which is fine. However the full size is there if you double click your pix and open in a new window. I took the liberty of doing this with one of yours and then uploaded to my Flickr account. This doesn't use up BCF capacity as the picture actually resides somewhere else.

By the way, I will take a pic of the Moss gasket this weekend that I got in the mail - it's different than the TRF gasket and fits perfectly.

Anyway, back to the photos. Here's you earlier photo - same but different ;-). I could have gone one size bigger (as long as the detail is in the original image) but this one works great. All sorts of good detail in there.

 

[HerronScott]

Can you post some pictures showing the differences between the Moss and the TRF gaskets?

Scott

 

[Don Elliott]

My 1958 TR3A (TS 27489 LO) has the original seals from 55 years ago because the black rubber seals I ordered and received about 10 years ago would not fit. I have the 3 adjuster design.

 

[luke44]

Can you post some pictures showing the differences between the Moss and the TRF gaskets? Scott

OK, this should clear up all the confusion. TRF gasket on left, Moss on right. The thicknesses are the same. The Moss gaskets fits my 31577 car perfectly. I will show some headlamp assembly pics over the weekend. Anybody want to buy 2 TRF gaskets for the 2 adjuster design, brand new, half price?

 

[Marvin Gruber]

I'll take them. PM me details


Marv

 

[luke44]

OK, some progress, more pix to follow later ....amazing how well things fit when you use the right part....

 

[TR3driver]

Hmm, not sure why I didn't see this thread before. Only thing I have to add is that the TRF gaskets will look and work fine, if you cut off the tits and cut a hole for the third adjuster.

What are you doing for trim rings? The "correct" rings for an early 3A are the "split" style, which I believe have been unobtanium for many years. And the TR3 screw-on rings don't fit well, because the 3A apron sticks out underneath and makes it nearly impossible to access the screw that holds the ring to the bucket. AFAIK, most people convert to the later snap-on style rings. (In case it's not obvious, Keith's photo is a TR3 bucket, which takes the screw-on type ring.)