1963 Headlight Bucket Repair
I have an early '63 fiberglass bucket that has the drive tang (end segment with two flat surfaces) broken off the inner pivot shaft. I also have an NOS replacement shaft to install in this bucket. Several questions regarding this repair:
1) How critical is the alignment of the inner and outer pivot shafts? I can imagine that not having the replacement shaft properly positioned when it is tack welded could cause binding problems when the headlight assembly rotates. Is it necessary to go so far as to have a jig of some kind to assure accurate alignment while welding the shaft, or will relying on the shoulder of the shaft and its contact with the end plate of the bucket be sufficient?
2) There is no obvious way to "index" the shaft's drive tang relative to the bucket. I assume that the position of the tang when the bucket is installed is not critical because the output shaft of the motor can be rotated to engage the pivot shaft regardless of the position of the tang. Is this a safe assumption?
Any other cautions/considerations when undertaking this repair?
Thanks...
1) How critical is the alignment of the inner and outer pivot shafts? I can imagine that not having the replacement shaft properly positioned when it is tack welded could cause binding problems when the headlight assembly rotates. Is it necessary to go so far as to have a jig of some kind to assure accurate alignment while welding the shaft, or will relying on the shoulder of the shaft and its contact with the end plate of the bucket be sufficient?
2) There is no obvious way to "index" the shaft's drive tang relative to the bucket. I assume that the position of the tang when the bucket is installed is not critical because the output shaft of the motor can be rotated to engage the pivot shaft regardless of the position of the tang. Is this a safe assumption?
Any other cautions/considerations when undertaking this repair?
Thanks...