Porch Light Lens Removal

[johnnybgood]

Hoping someone can help me out....

What is the proper procedure for removing this lens? I’ve tried different ways with no luck. Afraid I was going to break it.....

IMG_4229.jpg

[JohnB]

This is how I have figured out how to do it.

Get a semi fine tip, straight bladed screwdriver.

The lens starts to come out at the "bottom". Gently insert the tip between the clear lens and the white outer base at the bottom. Start at one end, about where the curved lens starts going straight.

Gently twist the screwdriver and it will apply slight pressure to compress the lens a little. Gently drag the screwdriver back a little. This will get one side, just started to come out. You only moved it about 1/16". How much twist and the width of the blade is TBD as you go. It needs to be enough to compress the lens about 1/2 the height of the bottom wedge locking tab. You do not want to fully compress the full height of the wedge tab all at once on one end, as it might crack.

Tongue light bottom on Flickr

Then go to the other side and do the same, insert screw driver and twist and pull step.

The lens then is starting to come out. With 2 thumbs and fingers, squeeze the lens top and bottom to help it compress a little more while rotating outward at the bottom. The top of the lens stays in at this moment, only the bottom is coming out

This pic is sort of way past the just starting point, but it was all I had on the server
Tongue light removeon Flickr

Keep pivoting it out and it will rotate right out of there "once" both ends are compressed to get past the little locking tabs. See the wedge tabs here on the bottom. Those wedge tabs and the lens being stiff is that makes it hard to get out and fly out going down the road
Tongue lens on Flickr

See if that helps

John

[Tinstaafl]

Hi, John. I had the same quandary when replacing everything with LEDs in my new-to-me '99 T-1950.

At the bottom of the lens, quite visible in your picture, are two hooked catches about 1/2" from each end. Those have to be flexed upward enough for the hooked end to clear the detent it's engaged with. Once both of them are free, the lens simply rotates outward at the bottom to come out.

It's a very tight fit, and indeed makes you feel like you're going to break the lens. Fortunately, it's actually pretty flexible unless you have a lot of UV degradation. I use a thin knife blade inserted in the crack, with a combination prying and twisting movement to release the two catches one at a time. Good luck!

[Draughty]

Thanks..I actually did a couple but needed a refresher as I have one on the backside of the trailer over the access hatches that needs replacing.
I went through and did a full LED replacement last year but missed that one as I didn't know it was there!

[johnnybgood]

Finally got around to this and got it off without breaking it!

Thank you so much for the tips!

[JohnB]

Thanks for reporting back John. Glad you were able to get it apart.