TCS rear light sockets

[Kendo]

Does anyone have a source for the bayonet sockets in the TCS rear lights? I need to remove them to re-chrome the light bases. But that is sure to destroy them. So I'm looking for a replacement. I looked all over Moss Motors, but found nothing. I emailed RD Ent, but haven't gotten a reply yet.

[BDA]

You could try http://www.britishwiring.com/

[Kendo]

That’s a good idea. I’d just been thinking of them as wire suppliers. But the only socket I see appears to be this screw in type, http://www.britishwiring.com/product-p/c611m.htm I’ll have to send them a photo and ask if they have bayonet sockets.

[Bryan Boyle]

Does anyone have a source for the bayonet sockets in the TCS rear lights? I need to remove them to re-chrome the light bases. But that is sure to destroy them. So I'm looking for a replacement. I looked all over Moss Motors, but found nothing. I emailed RD Ent, but haven't gotten a reply yet.

I just took the wiring base, spring, and wires out and rechromed with the sockets in place.  Not like anyone other than yourself is going to see that they are chrome rather than brass.  Really, you can leave the bulb sockets in place, but remove (if these are the rear) the reverse light assemblies carefully drilling out the rivets.  Put back together with 4-40 stainless screws. 

[Kendo]

According to the plater I sent them to, the reflectors are aluminum and would contaminate the plating bath. He was able to unplate the units, then noticed the aluminum and stopped. He thinks the reflectors have to come off. They are crimped on with the sockets. So if the sockets are destroyed getting them off, I’d want to have replacements.

This could all be wrong. The light units are currently out of my reach, so I can’t confirm.

[Kendo]

I was able to remove the light sockets so they can be reused. So now maybe the plater can finish plating.

On to the aluminum reflectors. How do you polish aluminum? By hand? Drexel wheel? I have a pint of autosomal. That could work for a rouge.

[BDA]

Glad you got your light sockets figured out!

I polish aluminum with Met-All Aluminum polish (available at Amazon or Fleabay) but there are lots of similar products.

[Kendo]

Do you do it by hand, or some machine polisher?

[BDA]

I do it by hand. If you’ve ever used Simichrome, it’s very similar but less expensive. If you haven’t… well, I would just say that for small pieces, I don’t think doing it by hand is a big deal.

[Kendo]

Great. Thanks for the tips. I just have four small reflectors to polish.