head light motor

[Mel S.]

I need a head light motor for my 66:
1. do I buy new or rebuilt
2. who do I buy from
Thanks
Mel

[Mike T.]

Re: head light motor

Mel - Is the existing headlight motor beyond repair? If so, check out the on-line NCRS Classifieds, there are some used ones listed for sale there. If it's just a matter of the potmetal gear being worn, most vendors offer replacements for reasonable money.

[Edward J.]

[Todd L.]

Re: head light motor

Check with Karl Burl, he restored my 63 headlight motors and often has original units for sale. Did a fantastic job restoring mine and fairly reasonable.

Karl Burl
410-596-2429

[Mel S.]

Re: head light motor

Good input. There is 28,800 original miles with me being the third owner. I will remove it and look at it.
Thanks
Mel

[Gary S.]

Re: head light motor

Google "Richard Mozetta" and read his excellent headlight motor rebuild. I followed it to the letter and had perfect results. His methods are useful and creative. In addition, the archives are loaded with "how-to" articles on this including replacing the pot metal gear that often gets damaged. Sources for new? Just about every vendor around. I have used Bair's Corvettes because they are less than two hours away from me if I really need something today.

[Ed S.]

Re: head light motor

If you open the "sticky folder data base" in this forum there are at least 5 excellent how - to C2 motor repair documents - reading these will tell you all you need to know about HL motor repair - after reading you can decide if you want to give it a try or send the motors off to be rebuilt. Good luck.

[Harry S.]

Re: head light motor

I've rebuilt several of mine but had to send one out. There is a bronze round bushing attached to the armature. If that part is worn, let the experts handle it.

[Mike T.]

Re: head light motor

Mel - We're still curious about your headlight motor? Can you fill us in on what it's doing or 'not' doing? Sometimes, the motor itself isn't the problem, could be a loose ground wire to the motor, bad contacts at the roll-over switch under the dash and things like that. And if the motor seems to be the culprit, do you get any sound out of it at all, or does it move slowly or ???.

[Frank D.]

Re: head light motor

I've rebuilt prob over a 1/2 dozen of them and (as Harry noted) if the bronze bushing isn't boogered up or the armature smoked they are easy rebuilds. Make SURE its your motor though.....once the motor is removed the headlight bucket should move freely with a flick of two fingers; if it doesn't then something is amiss with the rotational hardware. The motors usually get sluggish or stop due to congealed grease inside, galled main gears (repros are avaiable) or corroded connections in the circuit somewhere.

I've heard the "new" headlight motors aren't that good (but no personal experience).
I'd rebuild what I have or get a good rebuilt original.

[Gary S.]

Re: head light motor

As Frank said, proper & smooth operation of the headlight doors is essential for motors to work well. In addition to my comments about grease, I had to rebuild the bearings that the buckets spin on. The buckets barely moved!

[Mel S.]

Re: head light motor

My 66 has 28,800 original miles on it. Back in 2012 I replaced the head light motor on the PS because it did not open. When done, the PS opened a little faster then the DS. Two years ago I did a body off restoration. At that time the DS was still "lazy". This past fall, I took my last ride and the DS did not open. So now I will replace the DS motor. Would of been a lot easier if I replaced it two years ago.
Mel

[Frank D.]

Re: head light motor

Not sure why you are replacing them, as noted above, they are easy rebuilds...
A pleasant Saturday morning's work and you're done..
I have several articles on the process I can post if you're interested.

[Dale M.]

Re: head light motor

Maybe its time to repost our seminar on rebuilding midyear headlights, buckets and motors.
MidYearHeadlightSeminar.pdf (ncrs.org)

I do have a couple of mid-year headlight motors as wll

Dale Maris

[Frank D.]

Re: head light motor

That's the article I was going to post, another popular article advocates "flipping" the main gear 180* to get to good teeth....that was prob written before the later "good" main gears were reporduced. I don't recommend the flipping as its success hinges on how badly the gear is galled and how well you reposition it. Just not worth the risk.