Headlight Buckets Won't Close

[Bud K.]

On my 64 coupe, I opened the headlight buckets and all was well. Tried to close them and nothing. The fuse is OK and I think the switch is OK so where do I start to trace the problem?

Thanks for the help.

Bud.

[Dana Morse]

Re: Headlight Buckets Won't Close

Sounds like mine. But i have one that closes really slow. The motor is on its way out. You might have the same problem. Start looking for someone to rebuild em. There not cheap. Good luck.

[Rob A.]

Re: Headlight Buckets Won't Close

Bud,

If neither bucket moves when the switch is moved to the close position, it could be the contacts in the switch. You might try removing the switch, taking it apart and cleaning the close position contacts. It's not difficult, and there was a restorer article on how to do it. Be careful not to break the metal clips that hold the switch together.

[Jack Steele]

Re: Headlight Buckets Won't Close

BUD,

I would start by removing the plug at the motor and then checking to see if you got 12 volts when the switch was activated to lower the headlights. That would prove out your battery supply to the motor and the switch if the 12 volts is at the plug. Taking the motor out is very easy if you dont mind working upside down from a mirror remove the motor from the gear box , check to see if the grease in the gear box is not solid and blocking the gear operation. Clean out old grease and add new. Not too much as it isnt used a lot. take the motor apart, ( 2long screws) and check the commutator and brushes, usually they are just jambed or dirty,. If parts are needed one of the parts places up north has them (look in previous messages) and reassemble. Not a difficult job at all. when taking things apart make a little scetch of how things should go to gether, just to refresh memory when needed.

Jack Steele

bin there done that, easy

[John H.]

Re: Headlight Buckets Won't Close

Bud -

There's no fuse on that circuit - battery power goes through a circuit breaker above the driver's side kickpad to feed the switch (red wire). Check the two other wires exiting the switch for power while operating the switch - black/yellow is "up", and dark green is "down"; that will verify the switch. If it's OK, keep tracing those wires forward until you find the open circuit; if you have power on both terminals at the motors, it's time to pull the motors.