74 Headlight Actuator question
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 84
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From: San Juan Capistrano CA
74 Headlight Actuator question
Hi, my 74 sat in the desert for 20+ years. I have not yet tried the headlights. Does anyone recommend I do anything before trying the actuators? I'm not sure if there is a rebuild kit for the diaphrams or not. thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,225
Likes: 4,312
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi CG,
I'd disconnect the actuator's clevis from the headlight mechanism first.
Then, when you begin to move the clevis' shaft you'll be feeling if the diaphragm is stuck to the actuator body or not without putting too much pressure on it.
If it's stuck you can then decide on your next step.
Regards,
Alan
I'd disconnect the actuator's clevis from the headlight mechanism first.
Then, when you begin to move the clevis' shaft you'll be feeling if the diaphragm is stuck to the actuator body or not without putting too much pressure on it.
If it's stuck you can then decide on your next step.
Regards,
Alan
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,058
Likes: 99
From: Southeast, Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
the interior (main) diaphram of the actuators can't be "rebuilt" without a forced dis-assembly of the can. the boot around the actuator shaft can be replaced, but if the internal diaphram is bad the actuator needs to be replaced. i believe the actuator is riveted together and not meant for self rebuilding. i agree that i would spray the pivit points with wd40, but i doubt you would need to remove the clevis. before i rebuilt my entire vacuum system, i used to raise and lower the buckets by hand all the time. be careful when you reach up to pull the mechanism down to lower the buckets. you can get a nice "pinch" if your fingers are in the wrong place, lol. i would think being stored in the desert might have dried out the innards of the actuators, but you might just be lucky.
