Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Do repop 15" lenses have different size tolerances than originals?

I've got a set of great Rancho repop 15" lenses for my 36B I just got. I was planning on getting a repop body, but lucked into a new old stock low profile 15" body. I tried puting the lenses in the other night and the snap rings seemed REALLY tight trying to get them in there. It actually made me nervous that I would end up cracking the glass. Could this be an issue with repop lenses on an original body?

This is pretty common and what I've done is to put a couple of spots of silicone on, set the lens, and then put the rings on more for look. Good luck
Ray

So you're saying put the silicone behind the lense to hold it on? How do you put the rings on for look without actually puting them on, if you know what I mean?

Some lenses don't fit into low profile bodies very well.
Don't set your lenses in silicone! If you want to caulk them in do it from the outside.

Some lenses will fit 1 side, but not the other. Make sure they are in contact with the metal all the way around, before using snap ring. IF, it don't feel right, don't use snap ring. 4 spots of silicone on outside is better than a broken lens.

Roll a ring out of material about 1/2 as thick dia as what you have now.. I am surprised it is not done for tight lenses..

Dodo,

That's a good idea, think I may go that route. Now, just gotta find somebody to do it. There's not many metal shops in my area, maybe an automotive machineist?

Chris

Try A Welding shop for the smaller wire

Tinbasher shop, roofing, heating, that kind of thing..or racecar fab.

The wire grooves are in most sheet metal rolls on the side.. thee machine is a slip rolls or just plain rolls...

Or get some wire, go to a Harbour Fright type place, and ask for a demo.. say you want to know if it will roll XX thick wire..