1967 Headlights will not turn

[Dale M.]

Re: 1967 Headlights will not turn

I believe that I saw a posting from Duke, that there is a synthetic white lithium grease that will last longer. I could not find that post now. I will look further. Dale

[Joseph U.]

Re: 1967 Headlights will not turn

I have rebuilt the Headlight motors and now I have an assembly problem. It is with the 2 metal washers. A picture in the CC catalog suggests that the smaller washer rests on the "motor gear" while the larger washer is between the motor gear and the housing. THe larger washer is not flat but has a concave and convex side. SO how does it go in - Concave side toward gear ( picture 3) or Concave toward the housing ( picture 4) - and if picture 3 is correct (which I think is how it was when I took it apart) then what is the purpose of the smaller washer? Thanks - at this point I would like to get it together correctly and Dale's article does not seem to address this small point.I appreciate the help.
Joe
Joe

[William L.]

Re: 1967 Headlights will not turn

I have rebuilt the Headlight motors and now I have an assembly problem. It is with the 2 metal washers. A picture in the CC catalog suggests that the smaller washer rests on the "motor gear" while the larger washer is between the motor gear and the housing. THe larger washer is not flat but has a concave and convex side. SO how does it go in - Concave side toward gear ( picture 3) or Concave toward the housing ( picture 4) - and if picture 3 is correct (which I think is how it was when I took it apart) then what is the purpose of the smaller washer? Thanks - at this point I would like to get it together correctly and Dale's article does not seem to address this small point.I appreciate the help.
Joe
Joe

Joe
It goes plastic washer,gear, flat washer, convexed washer towards the flat washer. Hope you can see it in the picture.
Bill
DSCN6034.jpg

[Joseph U.]

Re: 1967 Headlights will not turn

Thanks Bill,
So it is like my picture #4. Should there be grease between the concave part of the curved washer and the casing? Should there be grease between the motor gear and the casing on both ends of the motor gear around the brass bushing? Would seem like there should be grease every place something is moving, but WDIK.
Thanks,
Joe

[Richard M.]

Re: 1967 Headlights will not turn

Joe,

Just be careful after assembly of the washers and gear. If you have new gears they may be slightly larger in the vertical position in the case. When you tighten the case screws go easy, a little at a time. If the gear binds up in the case it's caused by the bigger gear. I had to shave some of the flat surface of the gear where the washers mate. You may want to measure the thickness of the gears old and new for any differences.

Rich
p.s. yes lube anywhere there's contact

[Joseph U.]

Re: 1967 Headlights will not turn

Good thought - I will measure them before final assembly. When I did a test assembly everything seems to fit quite easily.
But thanks for the heads-up.
Joe

[Dale M.]

Re: 1967 Headlights will not turn

Joe, sorry I was out of town for a while. I believe that you have the correct information for the washers. I have not had any issues with the thickness of the gears, but many may have more experience than I have. Maybe I can expand my guide to include additional details. I appreciate everyone's input. Thanks

[Joseph U.]

Re: 1967 Headlights will not turn

Thanks Dale,
Your article was very very helpful. Feel free to use one of my pictures if they might help. Lesson learned is to take a picture when and as you take something apart so you will know how to put it back together.
Joe

[Paul J.]

Re: 1967 Headlights will not turn

You'll see a lot of restoration shops using pictures. On big projects, I also keep a ledger on unique pieces and assemblies and how they came apart, as well as a description of the unique parts. It's a pain, but really pays dividends when you put it back together.

Paul

[Joseph U.]

Re: 1967 Headlights will not turn

Yes Paul, I have learned that lesson the hard way - now I have a digital camera next to me when I take things apart.
BTW - project done BUT my rotation time is closer to 10 seconds not 5 or 6 as Bill suggested. They both rotate at about the same speed.
Do I have a problem here that might get me to disassemble them again?
Any ideas. I have not yet put them back on the car.
Joe

[Dale M.]

Re: 1967 Headlights will not turn

Joe, 10 seconds does seem slow. Mine are slightly different, but mine open/close in 4-6 seconds. I have not seen any test results on timings, but I would be concerned that something is binding up the motors. You stated that you have not put the motors back in the car, my question is how did you get the timings without them assembled in the car?

I test my motors while they are on my workbench. I use a small 12V battery, attached a lead to one terminal and ground the negative lead to the case. The two terminals on the motor is for open/close. I test both directions. The motors should turn freely. I also turn the thumb screws to feel the smoothest of the motors. With the motors out of the car, the buckets should also turn freely. Mine will flop open with no assistance. Also, I hope you have noticed the adjustment screw on the gear housing that set the end play for the motor shaft. Its on the end with the worm gear. I would be concerned with the headlights opening as slow as yours.

We also have a contact here in the Cincinnati area that specializes in rebuilding headlight and wiper motors. He is Steve Hack at Eastern Corvette. He always has adds in the Driveline. He claims to have a technique to make them both close in sync.

[Joseph U.]

Re: 1967 Headlights will not turn

I used the 12 volt battery on my car and a "fused" set of wires.
I just watched the end of the "Motor Gear" turn 360 degrees. THey seemed to turn very freely both with the motors and by hand.
It would seem that the speed of the open/close would be determined by the RPM of the motor, so what controls that?
I've gotten this far - I would hate to give up and send them off to someone else.
Just stubborn I guess.
Joe

[Dale M.]

Re: 1967 Headlights will not turn

Maybe I see a difference. The headlight buckets don't rotate 360 degrees to open/close. I believe its only about 150 degrees. I was watching my actual headlight buckets when I did my timings.

The RPM of the electric motors is determined by the amount of voltage/amps, resistance of wiring, the windings, the resistance, etc.

Likely you don't have any issues. I would suggest that lubercate the bushing for the motors if you haven't already done so. I believe that the motors and the housing balls get a lot of moisture and need to be lubricated.

when you put the motors back in, let me know how long it takes to open/close the headlight buckets. Good Luck Dale

[Joseph U.]

Re: 1967 Headlights will not turn

Thanks Dale,
As I was thinking about it I came to the same conclusion. The lights don't rotate all the way around or 360 degrees but probably less than half that much. SO I think I am good. and I did lubricate the brass bushings as well. Would it hurt to put some on the plastic bushings?
Thanks for the help.
Joe

[Joseph U.]

Re: 1967 Headlights will not turn

Installed the headlight motors today - so here is the data
Right Light - open and close time is about 6 seconds
Left Light - open time closer to 11 seconds but close time is about 6 seconds
Can't be electrical - must be something binding on the open phase but the bucket seemed to move easily without the motor in place.
Thoughts?
Thanks, Joe