Here’s the deal. I already have one of Brent’s gears in the motor. The problem is it seems to be over tightening, so when I go to turn the lights on I have to pop the hood and turn the motor **** a bit cause its to tight to move. After that it works fine. What would be causing the motor to do this?

 

Make sure the gear is seated properly and that it is well greased. It is also possible that the motor is going out.

 

The gear has been in the motor for well over a year now. The motor is fine, it's just over tightening. I cut a piece of hose and slip it on the top arm stop. Hopefully it will keep the arm from going the full travel to the stop and keep the motor for tightening down so much. I'll check it tomorrow, because if I loosen the motor so it will go up it will keep working until the next day. I'll let ya know if it worked.

 

One of my headlights does the same thing too. However I do not have the gear for it and it over tightens it as well. I have to do like you and just pop the hood and undo it. I only have to do it though like 1nce ever blue moon when it gets too overtightened.

 

craigffb,
Weird, I have Brents Gears in both of my headlights and they are doing the same exact thing now (but not all the time). All I have to do is turn the headlight **** about 2 turns and then hit the switch and it works fine.

Lemme know how your idea works out for you with the hose trick.

TTT. Mabee someone else may have some more suggestions too.

Thx,
Claude

 

I don't know exactly what causes this other than I don't believe it to be a problem in the headlight motor assembly. In fact, I just got off the phone with a guy who just placed a order and I just got the money order. He said one of his headlights makes the ratcheting noise and the other headlight sticks to where he has to use the **** to "unstick" the headlight and then it will work again. I've gotten several other emails from people who haven't bought the gears and have this sticking problem as well.

I have not seen this in person so haven't troubleshot it myself. But, it seems to me like there is some binding going on somewhere with the headlight assembly. I'm not sure if the raise/lower arm is binding or the headlight frame is wedged against like the fender or hood?

I like the suggestion above about sticking a piece of rubber tubing over the stop which sticks out and the raise/lower arm hits. This would prevent the headlight from going down as far as it does plus it will add some dampening affect. What else you could do is grease/lube up all moving joints/parts for the headlight assembly.

Like I mentioned, I get emails from people with this problem who still have the factory gears and also I've got a few emails from people who have this problem and have the brass gears. If the rubber hose on the stop tab works, please let me know! I'll add this info to my page! Thanks!

 

Well guys the hose trick seems to be working just fine!

Brent,
Here is a picture. I know someone will need it. Feel free to post the info up on your page. Everyone knows you as the headlight fix guy, so I'm not gonna make anything up for it.

Stop and hose fix

You can’t tell from the picture, but the arm is putting enough force on the to stop put a dent in the rubber hose piece so it may need to be replaced again after time and wear. But this fix seems to be working pretty darn good, just don’t ask me what size hose it was. I had a piece laying around and it just happen to be the right size.

 

Brent,

If the link to that picture isn't working let me know and I'll e-mail it to you.

 

The Link is not working for me, can you please send me the pics too.


Thanks,
Claude

 

Try this. I took the motor out so I could get a better picture, but you can get the pice of hose on without taking anything off.

www.geocities.com/formulapower2/stop1.jpg

It's still not working right. I'll send it.

 

That link did not work for me either but I got the email......

Simple but Effective, Nice!

Thx,
Claude

 

No problem Bro. Like I said, you may have to replace it again do to wear, but it's pretty simple.

 

Excellent!!! Thanks, Craig! I'll be adding this to the page!

I'm glad to hear that this did in fact fix the problem! Very cool!!!

 

Sure thing Brent. Seemed to easy to work, but it did.

 

I went ahead and put one on the other side for good measure. I could see where the arm was wearing into the stop post from the pressure. If this works for anyone else, post it on here so I can see if it is a reliable fix.

Thanks,

PS. If anyone wants to see the picture. Cut and past the actual link into your address bar and it should come up.