Headlight motor removal?

[Rod M.]

I am attempting to remove the headlight motors for the first time. I have removed the black bracket and the wire pin on the stud however the motor will not move. It does not appear that there is anything holding the motor in place. So my question is do I use some force to pull it of the shaft? Any help would be appreciated.

Rod Mcleod

[Michael G.]

Re: Headlight motor removal?

Rod,

More information. What year of car are you working with? Do have a factory assembly manual?

[Bill W.]

Re: Headlight motor removal?

I am attempting to remove the headlight motors for the first time. I have removed the black bracket and the wire pin on the stud however the motor will not move. It does not appear that there is anything holding the motor in place. So my question is do I use some force to pull it of the shaft? Any help would be appreciated.

Rod Mcleod

Rod,
The motor won't move because of tension (normal) on the shaft caused by closing the doors. Rotate the star wheel with one hand while holding the motor with the other, if you are moving the wheel the proper direction you will feel the motor lossen its grip on the shaft. If you are rotating wheel wrong direction the resistance in the star wheel will go up. All this is much easier done with the hood removed. Also make sure you have removed the power cables from the back of the motors, although this can be done once the motor is slid from the shaft. Bill

[Mark P.]

Re: Headlight motor removal?

If this is a C2 then remember the trick to wrap the motor in a rag and lift it out from the driver side corner while while twisting it to clear the body and hood.

[Harry S.]

Re: Headlight motor removal?

Rod, your profile says it's a 66. so we have a C2. I usually take the grill out and work from the bottom. No chance of scratching paint.

Bill gave a good solution, it should come out very easily when all the tension is relieved.

[Rod M.]

Re: Headlight motor removal?

The car is a 66 C2 and I have an assembly manual on order. I removed the bumpers and grille so I could restore the front valance area. One motor is a little slowed an the other so I planned on rebuilding the motor assemblies while I was in there. Thanks for the help.

[Mark P.]

Re: Headlight motor removal?

It is pretty tough to get them to open at the same time. After rebuilding mine on my 65 one opens slightly faster. This is a big improvement from when they only wanted to open about 1/2 way. This was an easy project and very satisfying.

[Gerard F.]

Re: Headlight motor removal?

The car is a 66 C2 and I have an assembly manual on order. I removed the bumpers and grille so I could restore the front valance area. One motor is a little slowed an the other so I planned on rebuilding the motor assemblies while I was in there. Thanks for the help.

Rod,

If this is the first time you are doing it, my advice is to just take off the hood. The motors can be taken out without removing the hood, bumpers and grille, but you will need eyes on your fingers and a mirror to work with.

Remember, working through a mirror everything is backwards.

After you do it once, the eyes on your fingers will remember how and where everything goes, and the second time you won't have to pull the bumpers or grille or hood anymore.

If you are going to pull the buckets, you need to take off the hood.

[Douglas G.]

Re: Headlight motor removal?

A further suggestion is to rebuild the switch that operates the headlights as well. This is not difficult as the procedure was described in a recent issue of The Restorer Magazine.There is a set of points in the switch that need cleaning.This also helps to get the lights to rotate at the same speed.This switch was made when things could be repaired and not replaced as is the case with most things today.

[Carl N.]

Re: Headlight motor removal?

You can also remove the bracket which is held on by two very large screws with with single slots (not phillips head) then have someone hold hood to forward position and lift motor less bracket out very carefully. Saves pulling hood or bumpers and grill. IMO pulling hood is less time than bumpers and grill if you cannot remove the bracket.

If you need to R&R headlight buckets go ahead and pull hood. Just IMO.

I've done '64s, '65s & '67s w/o by removing bracket and not pulling hood. Just take your time.

As mentioned above you may need to do both sides if you want them to rotate at about the same speed.

Not hard at all

Carl

[Paul J.]

Re: Headlight motor removal?

You can also remove the bracket which is held on by two very large screws with with single slots (not phillips head) then have someone hold hood to forward position and lift motor less bracket out very carefully. Saves pulling hood or bumpers and grill. IMO pulling hood is less time than bumpers and grill if you cannot remove the bracket.

If you need to R&R headlight buckets go ahead and pull hood. Just IMO.

I've done '64s, '65s & '67s w/o by removing bracket and not pulling hood. Just take your time.

Not hard at all

Carl

Exactly. I've done several this way. Just be patient.

Paul