Disclaimer:
This article is on an advice basis. We can't be held responsible for an breakage or damage incurred by following this advise.
Most sealed units are glued around the edge of the lens onto the unit or reflector directly. If this glue is slowly heated it becomes soft and pliable. Using a household oven is the chosen method for removing lens units. If the lens cover is glass the danger is; that of over heating or breaking the glass when prizing the lens away.
Tools required:
- Household oven heated to 150°C, fan assist is better.
- Oven glove or other.
- Flat screwdriver to use for prizing
- Towel for protecting lens
- Flat table
Instructions:
- Heat oven to 150°C
- Remove all parts from light unit where possible, bulbs, wires, grommets.
- Place unit in oven making sure that any heat source (flame) is away from unit
- Leave in oven for 1 - 1.5 Hrs.
- Carefully remove unit it will be hot, use a glove.
- Place on folded towel, on flat surface.
- Carefully prize each corner of lens away from unit, glass lenses will break if you over prize the lens, work around the rim if round.
- The lens should pop away from the unit.
- You should now have the reflector, or access to it.
Alternate method for silicon sealed units
Units sealed with silicon won't respond well to heat, but will respond to a a silicone neutralizer and to some extent other solvents like WD40. By a applying the solvent, soaking the unit the lens can be prized away.
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