I'm about to rip my hair out. I'm sure it applied to other years as well. basically, the 5 3/4" single headlight. i took it out to replace the bulb, and I can't get the thing to go back in the right way. it wants to keep falling back into the housing...??? what HOLDS it to the front trim ring to give it that flush look? somethin's not right, and its not as straight forward as my 98 fxstc where you just set the light in there and the outer ring holds it to the housing, simple, and straight forward. this one is givin me all kinds of problems.

there is also a rubber ring with 4 tabs on it, on the backside of the headlight. i'm thinkin that has somethin to do with it. but i'm tired of this puzzle.

any help would be appreciated from someone who has delt with this headlight and issue.

 

Looks like the rubber piece is holding it in place.
Looked in the Service manual, but no joy, only says how to take apart and has this general note at beginning of chapter:

"When reassembling headlamp, make sure slots and tabs in headlamp, mounting ring and trim ring are aligned"

Have attached the scan of how the stuff goes back together. Best I can do to help.

 

Thanks for the scan and the reply, however, it didn't really help. haha. I think as well, that the rubber peice with the 4 tabs is the key to it all, but i just can't get it to sit in there right. weird.

There has to be somethin stupid to it that i'm just not seeing.

Thank you anyway.