Repaired Front Black Out Light
Posted: Sat May 16, 2020 4:16 am
This forum has been a great help to me in the 3 years I have been "restoring" my own M 37. So thought I would relate my experience yesterday in replacing my front BO light in case someone someday wants to read how it went for me. When I turned on my dash light switch to the BO lights, it immediately shorted out, via the circuit breakers. So Pulled the 19 wire Douglas connector apart, and fond with a tester that I had good voltage To the connector, hence the short was in the short wire to or inside the BO light. Removed it, and took the rim off and found three little spring wire clips holding the sealed light fixture which was very rusted, and the inside wires all bent and shorted. Caution, when I pried off the wire clips, one went flying somewhere, so covered the other two with my hand when removing them.
Ordered a new one from Midwest, and it came in two days, but was not the whole light housing, just the sealed inner light with its hood. The box was dated 1952 with Douglas connectors. Cleaned and painted the outer hosing, used a Dremel to trim the mounting tab a tiny bit; to align the inner bulb/hood with the case, there is a small tab. Installed it with the two remain wire springs, and then found the third one on my work bench. I have plenty of Douglas and Packard connectors, and a full wring diagram with instructions on how to assemble them, came with my truck. Pretty handy checking what goes where, with all the tiny stamped markings on the wiring.
Recently bought a circular crimping tool from Ebay, and made up new Douglas connectors, for the run to the connectors in the engine bay. After my morning coffee, I will go out and install it and hook it up.
Just several thoughts. Don't throw away the old case or parts until you get your new sealed bulb unit. Use care to not lose the three springs. And Midwest has what you need. All the best..... HC
Ordered a new one from Midwest, and it came in two days, but was not the whole light housing, just the sealed inner light with its hood. The box was dated 1952 with Douglas connectors. Cleaned and painted the outer hosing, used a Dremel to trim the mounting tab a tiny bit; to align the inner bulb/hood with the case, there is a small tab. Installed it with the two remain wire springs, and then found the third one on my work bench. I have plenty of Douglas and Packard connectors, and a full wring diagram with instructions on how to assemble them, came with my truck. Pretty handy checking what goes where, with all the tiny stamped markings on the wiring.
Recently bought a circular crimping tool from Ebay, and made up new Douglas connectors, for the run to the connectors in the engine bay. After my morning coffee, I will go out and install it and hook it up.
Just several thoughts. Don't throw away the old case or parts until you get your new sealed bulb unit. Use care to not lose the three springs. And Midwest has what you need. All the best..... HC