Indicator gasket : another poor reproduction part

[265bhp]

2 suppliers
2 gaskets
Both identical
Neither fit....



Especially frustrating as I ordered the second one from a certain supplier who claims they did their own tooling to ensure an improved first...(currently being investigated)...which cannot be the case unless they let the other supplier also use their unique moulds

Apart from these 2 companies, has anyone had any better luck please...which other suppliers could I try

It’s the pointed/leading edge of the gasket which is the problem...see second photo



Help please

Thanks
Jonathan

[mgcjag]

Give CMC at Bridgenorth a call...they restore and now sell parts...Steve

[44DHR]

Have you tried COH Baines Ltd ?
All they produce are automotive rubber extrusions and mouldings.
I have fitted their gaskets before - although not the front indicator ones - but the rear indicator gaskets were perfect.
Regards,
Dave

P.S Postscript on this. I have bought rubber mouldings from COH Baines before - such as my Door Sill mouldings, but my rear light gaskets - which did fit perfectly - on checking my receipts, came from BAS International

[265bhp]

Hi Steve and Dave

I have spoken with CMC this afternoon and they are seeing what they could supply
I will then try Baines if needs be

Many thanks
Jonathan

[abowie]

Help please

Thanks
Jonathan

Common problem.

The solution is to use superglue to attach the rubber to the light prior to fitting it to the car.

[265bhp]

Hi Andrew
Dependant on what CMC say, I have another solution in mind...will report back

[Barry]

I think you will find CMC get their parts from a SNGB who are only a couple of miles down the road from each other. Why don’t you contact Julian Barrett direct and tell him about the problem, and ask him what they can do about it. Of all the parts suppliers, and they are the biggest, and the most helpful.

[265bhp]

Hi Barry

I already have Simon from SNG on the case...Barratt’s claim they have re-tooled to improve fit...but as I noted in the original post the gasket they supplied is exactly the same as from Wilkinson’s...so clearly not a unique product....

Simon hasn’t phoned back yet...let’s see what he says as well

Thanks
Jonathan

[265bhp]

Well to bring this post to a conclusion....after 2 weeks and having spoken to Paul at CMC they didn’t return my call despite saying he would investigate for me, so you can read whatever you like into that customer relations exchange
Nothing came back from SNG until a week or so after I put this post on the forum, when James rang me from SNG
We had a very open and friendly chat and I made it perfectly clear what I thought about their gaskets and lack of quality, at which point after conceding that their current supply was all the same as what I had received, he very honourably offered to refund the cost of all 4 and didn’t require me to return them as with photographic evidence they wouldn’t be be much use to anyone else anyway, so thank you James

By this time I had made up my mind that wasting more time with unpredictable supplies was pointless, so after a search on the very professional Baines web site I purchased 2 sets of neoprene trims, and upon receipt made my final choice to then make my own gaskets

Now these fit perfectly







Thanks for all the help to everyone, hopefully this was just my bad luck and perhaps this might help someone else end up with a decent solution if they are in the same situation

Jonathan

[Geoff Allam]

The gaskets look good from what can be seen but I am not sure exactly how you fabricated them. Do you have any pictures and an explanation of what exactly you did?

[44DHR]

Geoff,
What Jonathan did was exactly what this great forum resource is for - take advice from fellow enthusiasts who have experienced issues and are willing to share them to reach a solution. It looks like Jonathan bought edge beading and cut it to wrap around the edge of the light housing.
I’m just glad Jonathan got a solution.
Cheers,
Dave

[265bhp]

Hi Geoff

Dave is 100% correct...the gaskets serve only to take up a difference in profile and (attempt) a water resistant seal...so all that is truly needed is an edge...the bit in the middle is superfluous...
I used contact adhesive as it allows repositioning..places on the inner edge of the metal casting...and which can be cleaned up easily...sometime superglue can create a whitish residue which can mark components...

This was the profile I used...hope it can help someone else



All the best
Jonathan

[Geoff Allam]

Perfect. Thank you for that Jonathan.

[rfs1957]

Out of interest, has there been any movement on this front ?

Photos show the hopeless ones I've got, can't even be bothered to look up where they came from as 1) almost every re-seller uses the same supplier anyway, and 2) I factored in a long time ago that to the cost of working on your E-Type you can add 30% to the cost for all the crap you'll buy and not use because it won't fit, and 3) they were bought at least 2 years ago so the "outside guarantee" will get wheeled out.

The extra risble thing about these ones is that they've got silhouette cut-outs in some areas to guide you where you have to cut them yourself to make them fit.

Only with this type of seal, no amount of cutting will make them long enough to espouse the lights of course.

[MarekH]

Fit a seal as per Jonathan's post. I've seen it and it looks to be a very good solution.

kind regards
Marek

[rfs1957]

Have noted that C O Baines reference and will try it.

Do we have any consensus about where to source the 8620-54571934 seals between the lenses and the rearlight housings ?

Those look ripe for some right cock-ups from the usual sources.

[265bhp]

Hi Rory
If they are the soft dark grey foams then I got mine from SNG and surprise surprise…they actually fitted….

[265bhp]

Or was it M & C Wilkinson….bugger can’t remember…I bought the entire “rubber” set from them…apart from the door B posts and indicators ..oh and the 2 part rear hatch gasket…(crap design…2 parts not one and way too fat…) all else was pretty good
If you want the rear hatch seal get that from Baines as well…single section.as it should be …..and the right size…. and supple….

Jonathan

[Bill B]

RE rear TL gasket housing to body seal. I had a rubber kit from SNG (20 yrs ago) tried to put the gaskets on the RH one was about 1/8 in short. The LH was about 1/4 in short. That's bad enough but after getting the right one on, there was a gap between edge and body, I used dum dum on the RH.

But the LH was hopeless. No way it was going to fit despite stretching, and strategic pie cuts. Called another supplier to measure theirs it was the same about 11 1/16 inch.

Ordered two more from SNG....These were longer about 11 1/4 which was only about 1/16 short. Throw into boiling water, simmer for 30 min. then put on board to stretch as shown (if pics come out). These gaskets are different from previous and are stamped SNG,.

SO! I got them on the housing but the problem is a gap between gasket and bodywork. (yes 2 body guys trial fitted them before I sent them to re chrome)

The underside of housing at the narrow end is a larger gap but that will be less noticeable

Any solutions for the gap?

My problem is the rear gaskets sealing to the bodywork. If these pics load you can see the gap maybe, tough to get a pic.

[rfs1957]

Thanks for putting all that up Bill.