Need help finding a thread
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 489
Likes: 6
From: Brockton MA
Need help finding a thread
I have searched and thought I bookmarked a thread but can't find it. It was a thread on turning the headlight gear 180 degrees to a good spot. I know its a temp fix and I already have the Rodney Dickman gears I am going to install this winter. I just want to temp fix my passenger side for now.
Thanks in advance, Mark
Thanks in advance, Mark
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 287
Likes: 2
From: Corydon Indiana
rotate the gear
Mark,
I couldn't find my old thread, either...! But I did copy this out of another thread I'd contributed to. Hope this helps. PM me if you want; I've done this.
"I have a late '99 LS1. It has the later 2000 glued headlight motors. Apparently, GM used either motor during the switch over from the bolted to the glued motors. Unfortunately, each type has it's own specific framework requirement. When I finally discovered my '99 used the "glued" 2000 motor the replacement fit right in. Both motors use a 3 bolt mount, but, of course, they are different one from another.
To get at the gears in a glued motor you have to use something like a dremel tool to split open the case. (The older "non-glued" motor simply unbolts.) If you split the "glued" case you should glue (epoxy) it back together to keep debris from getting into the little gear case and causing additional failure. However, depending how well (neatly) you split the cases you will have a "kerf" (saw blade width) removed from the width of the case. This can/may affect the intersection of the worm/drive gear with the bull/output gear. You may have to insert a spacer washer on one side of the output shaft or the other to get the proper worm gear alignment..obviously, before you glue it back together. (Does GM want to sell replacement parts??? Durn right!)
Two better/easier(?) solutions; 1) replace both with new motor assemblies , or, 2) do nothing until the motors tell you they have a problem. When that happens, go into the mechanism just far enough to disengage the swing arm on the headlight assembly - the one that raises to headlights - with the swing arm disengaged from the output drive shaft of the headlight drive motor, manually rotate the (the **** on the back of the motor) drive motor until the output shaft has rotated 180 degrees. Then reinstall the motor assembly onto the swing/actuating arm, button every thing up, and test. The most common point of failure is not the worm gear, but the output/bull gear. In actual usage the bull gear makes less than a 180 degree rotation. By rotating the output gear, as noted above, you actually bring a new/unused part of that gear into play. If you have experienced a "normal" headlight motor failure this solution gives you twice the life on a motor.
After that you will have to replace the output gear by de-glueing the case, etc., or, by a new or rebuilt headlight motor assembly.
If you are not having any problems with the headlight motors, I'd leave them alone. When you finally experience some problem, rotating the output shaft is about a 30 to 45 minute job per side. (2 hours for me because I'm fumble fingered and old and half blind.)
Hope this helps a little,
Best Regards,
Gunny John
I couldn't find my old thread, either...! But I did copy this out of another thread I'd contributed to. Hope this helps. PM me if you want; I've done this.
"I have a late '99 LS1. It has the later 2000 glued headlight motors. Apparently, GM used either motor during the switch over from the bolted to the glued motors. Unfortunately, each type has it's own specific framework requirement. When I finally discovered my '99 used the "glued" 2000 motor the replacement fit right in. Both motors use a 3 bolt mount, but, of course, they are different one from another.
To get at the gears in a glued motor you have to use something like a dremel tool to split open the case. (The older "non-glued" motor simply unbolts.) If you split the "glued" case you should glue (epoxy) it back together to keep debris from getting into the little gear case and causing additional failure. However, depending how well (neatly) you split the cases you will have a "kerf" (saw blade width) removed from the width of the case. This can/may affect the intersection of the worm/drive gear with the bull/output gear. You may have to insert a spacer washer on one side of the output shaft or the other to get the proper worm gear alignment..obviously, before you glue it back together. (Does GM want to sell replacement parts??? Durn right!)
Two better/easier(?) solutions; 1) replace both with new motor assemblies , or, 2) do nothing until the motors tell you they have a problem. When that happens, go into the mechanism just far enough to disengage the swing arm on the headlight assembly - the one that raises to headlights - with the swing arm disengaged from the output drive shaft of the headlight drive motor, manually rotate the (the **** on the back of the motor) drive motor until the output shaft has rotated 180 degrees. Then reinstall the motor assembly onto the swing/actuating arm, button every thing up, and test. The most common point of failure is not the worm gear, but the output/bull gear. In actual usage the bull gear makes less than a 180 degree rotation. By rotating the output gear, as noted above, you actually bring a new/unused part of that gear into play. If you have experienced a "normal" headlight motor failure this solution gives you twice the life on a motor.
After that you will have to replace the output gear by de-glueing the case, etc., or, by a new or rebuilt headlight motor assembly.
If you are not having any problems with the headlight motors, I'd leave them alone. When you finally experience some problem, rotating the output shaft is about a 30 to 45 minute job per side. (2 hours for me because I'm fumble fingered and old and half blind.)
Hope this helps a little,
Best Regards,
Gunny John
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,835
Likes: 302
From: Columbia SC
Maybe these can help.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...orialized.html
http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/foru...d.php?t=102908
Mr. Sam
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...orialized.html
http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/foru...d.php?t=102908
Mr. Sam
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From: West Branch, MI
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 489
Likes: 6
From: Brockton MA
Thanks, I took the motor out yesterday and installed the gear and epoxied the cover back on. This morning I reinstalled the assembly in the car. Everything works now with no grind. I am a big guy with big hands and I was able to just remove the motor assembly while leaving the headlight assembly still in the car. Thanks again, wonder when I'll have to do the other one? I do have the other gear already.
