'77 headlight question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 421
Likes: 27
From: Harrisburg PA
'77 headlight question
While I was replacing the vacuum lines for my headlights today, I "manually" opened the driver's side headlight...
I am now unable to close it.
The car is not in a position to be ready to start for a little while--I still have to put the entire dash back together, but figured while I had it apart, it was a good time to replace all of the vacuum lines.
probably should not have opened the light by hand, but it came up pretty easily...just will not go back to closed, and I don't want to force it...
suggestions?
I am now unable to close it.
The car is not in a position to be ready to start for a little while--I still have to put the entire dash back together, but figured while I had it apart, it was a good time to replace all of the vacuum lines.
probably should not have opened the light by hand, but it came up pretty easily...just will not go back to closed, and I don't want to force it...
suggestions?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 971
Likes: 45
From: Middlesex NJ
You can't simply push it back closed. The links locks kinda like ur knee when you straighten it out tight. This helps the headlight door linkage have more strength when it's up.
The design really is a piece of art ( mechanical engineering) ... Some may disagree but it works very well.
Anyway ... The linkage that moves the door up and down is hinged in the middle and is connected to the headlamp door on one side and to the support bracket on the other. The actuation from the vacuum can attaches to the center of the hinge and in effect reduces the effort by half to move the door up and down but requires twice as much travel.
If memory servers correctly you need to look for the linkage where the 4 springs connect on a long pin through the hinge section ( there is a hole in my linkage to pull down from ). I believe you need to pull down towards the ground to unlock the hinge from itself and then you can press down at the same time on the door and it will go down ( unplug the vacuum lines from the actuator to make it easier ).
The design really is a piece of art ( mechanical engineering) ... Some may disagree but it works very well.
Anyway ... The linkage that moves the door up and down is hinged in the middle and is connected to the headlamp door on one side and to the support bracket on the other. The actuation from the vacuum can attaches to the center of the hinge and in effect reduces the effort by half to move the door up and down but requires twice as much travel.
If memory servers correctly you need to look for the linkage where the 4 springs connect on a long pin through the hinge section ( there is a hole in my linkage to pull down from ). I believe you need to pull down towards the ground to unlock the hinge from itself and then you can press down at the same time on the door and it will go down ( unplug the vacuum lines from the actuator to make it easier ).
Racer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 287
Likes: 8
I have the same problemwith my 77, until I replace my passenger actuator that is.
What I have done is tie a rope onto the mechanism to aid in pulling it down to get it to unclamp itself, since using your hand to do it is going to be tough and require some force.
good luck, you wont need it.
What I have done is tie a rope onto the mechanism to aid in pulling it down to get it to unclamp itself, since using your hand to do it is going to be tough and require some force.
good luck, you wont need it.
