| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Thomas Ford 85-16
Top Member
USA
4177 Posts |
 Posted - 04/18/2010 : 12:30:25 PM
|
Has anyone done anything creative to plug the screw holes for 7" light lenses? I ask because I have trouble with insects building nests in there and blocking my access to the screws. I was wondering if anyone has used something that was easily removable with a pick or something. I am thinking of small lengths of rubber hose, something with a very small inside diameter...small enough to keep water out but large enough to insert a pick and pull the plug out when the light needs to be serviced. But then I don't know what sort of hose exists that has hardly any inside diameter.
One mechanic I know fills those holes with RTV silicone, but I don't want to do that because I don't want the solvents or chemicals in the caulking harming my lenses.
SoundOff Signal provides plastic plugs with their products that match the color of the lense to seal off those holes, but they are permanent...you'd have to drill a hole into the plug to get ahold of it to pull it out if the wiring behind it ever needed servicing. Anyone have ideas that are less parmaenent? |
|
|
IBTMech
Top Member
USA
973 Posts |
Posted - 04/18/2010 : 2:38:16 PM
|
Foam earplugs?
Cigarette filters? |
If it doesn't fit, FORCE it.
If it breaks, well, it needed replacing anyway.
Pullin' wrenches for 45 years. |
 |
|
|
bwest
Administrator
United States
3820 Posts |
Posted - 04/19/2010 : 05:18:15 AM
|
| How about plain old clear packing tape? Wonder how long it would last in the sun? |
Bryan |
|
|
|
lonebustech
Senior Member
United States
79 Posts |
Posted - 04/19/2010 : 05:58:26 AM
|
| soundoff brand LED were coming with red plugs |
22 Buses,18 support vehicles,Grounds equip, buffers and vacuums for 9 campuses. 1 Tech. and 2 bays ain't life grand |
|
|
|
hardybusman
Advanced Member
United States
470 Posts |
Posted - 04/20/2010 : 5:41:03 PM
|
| I just blast mine with water before I attemp to remove the screws. I wish body manufacturers would use stainless screws for those lights. |
Mr. Courtney Hardy
|
|
|
|
bus724
Top Member
USA
1609 Posts |
Posted - 04/20/2010 : 5:52:21 PM
|
| I use a shot of PB penetrating oil in the winter before changing a bulb. Our buses don't get washed, so the screw holes end up full of sand. (Related to the above post, but kind of irrelevant to the insect issue.) I'm not sure if the solvents harm the plastic, but it's better than sanding the screw heads flat. |
|
|
|
bwest
Administrator
United States
3820 Posts |
Posted - 04/20/2010 : 7:44:36 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by hardybusman
I just blast mine with water before I attemp to remove the screws. I wish body manufacturers would use stainless screws for those lights.
I'm with you on this one. I wouldn't mind if it added more to the cost of the unit. Couldn't cost over $50 per unit for every cotton picking light on the thing. What's $50 when your spending $70,000? |
Bryan |
|
|
|
Jim Kimmel
New Member
7 Posts |
Posted - 04/21/2010 : 10:14:57 AM
|
| usee fome ear plugs they go in easy and then will expand to a tight fit. and will be easy to remove. |
|
|
|
Thomas Ford 85-16
Top Member
USA
4177 Posts |
Posted - 04/21/2010 : 1:51:32 PM
|
Thanks guys! I really like the foam earplugs idea! They wouldn't become saturated with water though, would they? Maybe on the outside surface, but I'd imagine inside they'd stay perfectly dry.
THANKS!
Oh, regarding the stainless screws...I bought stainless but one of the 8 that I bought at the same time is actually rusting. I wonder if I got sold something that wasn't what it was claimed to be, or if it was just a bad batch. I dunno. |
Mike's Bus Yard - http://buses.zwebpages.com - Since 1999
|
|
|
|
hardybusman
Advanced Member
United States
470 Posts |
Posted - 04/21/2010 : 3:57:18 PM
|
| sounds like you bright zinc instead of stainless. |
Mr. Courtney Hardy
|
|
|
|
eicsbus
Senior Member
Canada
126 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2010 : 09:11:22 AM
|
| what we use is robertson head screws, a quick blast of air cleans out the lense pockets, and the heads never strip, like phillips heads |
I.C. NO FUTURE
formally ,,,,wright11 |
|
|
|
WillWho
Active Member
USA
23 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2010 : 09:14:20 AM
|
| Have you tried chapstick? You may have to re-fill in the hotter months, but it will stay put and keep the bugs out. You don't even have to clean the gunk out before removing the screw, just stick the screwdriver in and find the slot. Put some red tape around the chapstick and keep it on the bus for when you need it next time. The red tape is warn you that you don't want to put that stuff on your lips. |
It's not worthing doing if you're not having fun.
When the kids ask how old I am, I tell them, "Old enough to have helped create the formula for dirt, but young enough to still enjoy playing in it." |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Plugs for 7" light lenses
