Slow Headlight?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,864
Likes: 5
From: OZ City, Kansas, The Land of AHHHHHHS!
Slow Headlight?
One headlight on the '65 is a little lazy and slow to go up & down and also kind of whines and squeals... With What & Where to lube? Or bigger problem?
Last edited by Tom E.; Nov 1, 2007 at 09:48 AM. Reason: punctuation
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Bethesda MD
one person to ask...
would be Eastern Corvettes in Ohio. I know that Steve Hack spends much of his time on headlight assemblies and would be glad to give you the advice/repair you need. Email him at mike@easterncorvettes.com (Mike is his son who works with him). They are restoring my car as we speak, so I can confirm their impeccable work. Or you can call at 513-553-2080. Tell them I sent you.
Steve Berson
Steve Berson
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 924
Likes: 7
From: Northeast Ohio
Gears, shims, limit switches, thrust washers, and most other major parts are available from Corvette Central.
Last edited by SolidAxle; Nov 1, 2007 at 10:12 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 997
Likes: 0
Good topic Tom
Originally Posted by Tom E. View Post
One headlight on the '65 is a little lazy and slow to go up & down and also kind of whines and squeals... With What & Where to lube? Or bigger problem?
This is a great DIY project. Get an AIM and pull the gearbox & motor assemblies. Dissasemble the gearbox, clean out all the old lube, check the main gears, clean the motor assemblies with electrical cleaner, reassemble, test, and re-install. Hardest part is getting the assemblies on and off the car. Just finished a set of '63's, here are some photos that may help you..... http://ckautollc.phanfare.com/album/...ageID=27593501
Gears, shims, limit switches, thrust washers, and most other major parts are available from Corvette Central.
Solidaxle,
Great slideshow! Couple questions. Any pointers or tricks needed to remove the assemblies? Did you media blast the cases? Anything you need to watch out for during disassembly like springs or pins flying out? Also any special oils or lubes? Thanks.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,068
Likes: 27
From: St. Joseph Mo
Lazy headlight bucket causes: (In no particular order)
1. Wire connections. Clean all of them, get out your wire diagram in chassis service manual. Start at bulkhead connector, don't forget your ground wires.
2. Lube or lack thereof. Drop of oil on the motor shaft ends and new lube in gearbox.
3. Chewed up output gear in gearbox. $50 buys a pair from most of the vendors. Don't bother with the 'turn gear 180 degrees' trick, fix it once and never worry with it again.
When you get the motor out, run it on the workbench with a battery or battery charger. Run it both directions. Give it a chance to 'self clean' the brushs and commutator.
1. Wire connections. Clean all of them, get out your wire diagram in chassis service manual. Start at bulkhead connector, don't forget your ground wires.
2. Lube or lack thereof. Drop of oil on the motor shaft ends and new lube in gearbox.
3. Chewed up output gear in gearbox. $50 buys a pair from most of the vendors. Don't bother with the 'turn gear 180 degrees' trick, fix it once and never worry with it again.
When you get the motor out, run it on the workbench with a battery or battery charger. Run it both directions. Give it a chance to 'self clean' the brushs and commutator.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
If you take the motor apart, be sure to clean the shaft off so that it doesn't bind and pull out the internal bearing. In addition to the previous advice, you can find a good article on Barry's website on the whole process. You'll probably get advice that it isn't necessary, but I found everything easier to get to and access both the motor and the buckets by taking off the hood.
http://lbfun.com/Corvette/Tech/vettetech.html
http://lbfun.com/Corvette/Tech/vette...%20Rebuild.pdf
http://lbfun.com/Corvette/Tech/vettetech.html
http://lbfun.com/Corvette/Tech/vette...%20Rebuild.pdf
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 924
Likes: 7
From: Northeast Ohio
Headlight motors are kind of tough to get out with the hood on but it can be done. Get used to working upside down while removing and reinstalling. Nothing special to worry about when disassembling, I would do one side at a time so you have an example to refer to. I use white lithium grease in the gearbox and lightweight (3 in 1) oil for the motor shaft.
I did lightly glass bead the housings to clean them up. They came out great.
I did lightly glass bead the housings to clean them up. They came out great.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,864
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From: OZ City, Kansas, The Land of AHHHHHHS!
Thanks for the info from all.
I was hoping this task might be a little simpler...like maybe a well aimed squirt of WD-40 or Silicon spray to kind of loosen things up! But we all know it's never something that simple!
I was hoping this task might be a little simpler...like maybe a well aimed squirt of WD-40 or Silicon spray to kind of loosen things up! But we all know it's never something that simple!
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,576
Likes: 118
From: Conroe Texas
FYI - I left my hood on when removing my headlight motors, and put a few minor scratches in the paint as a result.
If I had to do it again, I'd disconnect the hood support, allowing the hood to open more than normal, and then I'd prop the hood up in that "over opened" position.
Oh yeah, the headlight motor disassembly, clean, assembly bits were quite easy and very rewarding when my headlights both worked for the first time.
Jeff
If I had to do it again, I'd disconnect the hood support, allowing the hood to open more than normal, and then I'd prop the hood up in that "over opened" position.
Oh yeah, the headlight motor disassembly, clean, assembly bits were quite easy and very rewarding when my headlights both worked for the first time.
Jeff
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 4,142
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62Jeff.....strange that you mention the over-opened position as I have never heard anyone mention it before. I discovered this by accident just the other day as I had a piece of rope tied to the ceiling to hold the hood open while I installed the support. Makes a huge difference!
Normal position:
Without support attached:
Normal position:
Without support attached: