Want tips on replacing 289E-89 bulb holder on Postwar Berkshire boiler front

JB Weld is your friend

Yes it is.

put the new holder where you want it, add JB...then let it sit for a few days and never look back.

The trouble with JB Weld, as C.W. knows, is that this connection provides the ground to complete the headlight circuit. JB Weld will probably insulate it.

Maybe enough of a very short brass screw could be installed in the boiler front and then the bracket soldered to that. I know that works for installing brass detail parts to a die cast shell. Don't know if it would hold up in this case, but it would produce the neatest result.

Or you might be able to install the bracket with a short screw to get electrical conductivity and then reinforce the mounting  with the JB Weld. The screw itself probably wouldn't hold for long in the soft die cast boiler front, but JB Weld around the edges should be strong enough.

It wouldn't look as pretty, but another way would be to use JB Weld for the bracket, and then install a grounding wire soldered to the outside of the socket  to the frame using maybe one of the smoke unit mounting screws. This way the bracket itself wouldn't have to be electrically grounded.

Jim

I did a 675 this way, used some emery on the back f the boiler front, there was enough of the stub left to position the holder, then I put the JB on over top of the holder. Has worked fine for over 10 years.

I think these boiler fronts with the bulb insert in good condition are available from parts suppliers.

Thank you for all the tips and suggestions.

You could also run a separate ground wire from the socket back to the engine frame

Marty