head light problem
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 120
Likes: 27
From: Connecticut
head light problem
The right side head light will not rotate open on my 67 conv (left side works fine), if I turn the manual **** a half turn and then use the switch it will open. If I close using the switch it will not open until I touch the **** again.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 720
From: Fairfax, Virginia
I agree. With the symptoms you mentioned it sounds like mechanical rather than electrical. Likely the electric motor in the offending headlight bucket needs to be rebuilt or the pivot ***** need to be lubricated or replaced or both. Lots here on the Forum about removing, rebuilding, and re-installing a headlight motor. Or you could do like I did and for a mere $535 switch to Detroit Speed headlight motors (actuators) and have your headlights buckets open and close almost instantly. Good Luck with it. C.J.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,191
Likes: 951
From: Corpus Christi, TX
This is usually the cause of a sticking motor that will rotate the attached bucket once the sticky part is rotated through using the thumb wheel. This gear is exposed through the motor housing, has a rectangular opening in it, and the pivot rod from the bucket fits in that opening to rotate the bucket.Not that you should avoid taking the rest of the motor apart to clean it and lubricate the moving parts (suggest NOT removing the armature from the motor magnet housing; the brushes are a bit annoying to reposition on the commutator), but if there is no other wear on the gear teeth, repositioning the gear by 180 degrees (1/2 turn) can give you some more operating time before the gear needs to be replaced.
If you're going to clean and lube the guts, whatever you do, stay away from white lithium grease. Use a synthetic base wheel bearing grease that won't dry out and gum up the works.
