out of "sync" 308 headlight | FerrariChat

out of "sync" 308 headlight

Discussion in '308/328' started by spike308, Nov 2, 2024.

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  1. spike308

    spike308 F1 Rookie
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    Nov 8, 2003
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    Mike Z
    I switched my headlights to much better ones. In the process, I clearly screwed something up.
    I'm not a mechanic, and fail at playing one on TV too...

    when the lights go up, my drivers side (the one I know I screwed up), goes up, then goes down just a little.
    Part #11 has the silver dollar sized crank on the top to "readjust" the entire assembly (actually, I think it is there if there is a complete failure of the lift / close mechanism, so one can crank up the light if needed).
    going counter clockwise with it gets it all lined up.... until I rotate the switch to turn them off / on.
    I've done this with the lights down and up.

    when power is available, counter clockwise rotation of said part of part #11, you get to a "vibration", not allowing it to rotate anymore.
    Being a non genius, I disconnected the battery, thinking I could "reset" where it starts / stops.
    No dice. Still out of alignment.

    Part #5 is secure. Nothing is loose.
    I took off the black louver behind the light assembly for better exposure (yes, and lost a screw)...

    any ideas where to take it from here?
    your thoughts are appreciated!
    (yes, I'm a moron...)
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  2. Anthony Rapuano

    Anthony Rapuano Karting

    Aug 16, 2022
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    Anthony V Rapuano, Jr.
    Mike,
    To my knowledge, the manual winder knob on the top of the motor is used solely in the case of failure of the motor as a means to manually raise or lower the headlight pod. I have never heard of its use as a means to adjust the position of a functioning headlight pod. You will likely have to make some adjustment to the length of part #5, which is essentially a turnbuckle. Try lengthening it just a bit and see what happens. Also, part #10, the crank that attaches to the motor, is splined. Make sure that part is tightly attached. If loose, it could jump a spline or two and affect the position of the pod. There are also up and down physical limiters of the headlight pod position, essentially bump stops, that can be used to fine tune the resting (down) position and up position of the pod. Can't imagine how simply swapping out the headlight would have affected any of the lift components. Should be an easy fix.
     
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  3. spike308

    spike308 F1 Rookie
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    thanks...
    and ye of little faith. I almost learned the hard way how these very stout light mechanisms can take off fingers.... thus me screwing it up!
     
  4. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
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    Brian Crall
    Pretty common. #5 and #10 need to be a straight line. If there is any angle to them with light up it will do as you say.

    Mike, if you value your fingers make sure battery is off during repair.
    #10 is attached to a tapered shaft so loosen the nut hopefully without rotating motor shaft, pry it slightly to break loose from shaft, align so it and push rod are a straight line and retighten the nut. If the shaft moves at all the motor stopping point needs to be restablished. If the battery is connected keep your fingers out of there.
     
  5. mk e

    mk e F1 World Champ

    Oct 31, 2003
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    Help me get this thing finished! https://gofund.me/39def36c
    That would be my guess....the goes to the correct high then drops a little is the key bit of info I think....pop the bell crank off, light up put it back on with the light in the correct position and it should be fixed
     
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  6. spike308

    spike308 F1 Rookie
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  7. spike308

    spike308 F1 Rookie
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    so.... the nut I'm pointing at... is that the nut you are talking about. It was easy to get off (it was not loose).
    there really isn't a "nut" connecting #5 and #10.
    is the "tapered shaft" part of #10 that connects to #5?
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  8. spike308

    spike308 F1 Rookie
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    sorry for asking such basic questions... I'm really not bright!
     
  9. Anthony Rapuano

    Anthony Rapuano Karting

    Aug 16, 2022
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    It appears in this picture that the headlight pod is in the down (parked) position. It would be beneficial to see the alignment of parts #5 and #10 with the headlight pod up.
     
  10. Anthony Rapuano

    Anthony Rapuano Karting

    Aug 16, 2022
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    The tapered shaft, or splined shaft as I believe it to be, is actually the shaft of the lift motor that part #10 attaches to. The turnbuckle assembly, #5, in your pictures appears to be an aftermarket part, or perhaps off another vehicle, as it does not match the part #5 pictured in the parts diagram, nor does it look like the mechanism on my '76 Euro GTB, which I believe to be original. That being said, the turnbuckle assembly in your pictures seems like it would be a reasonable working replacement for the original part. To my knowledge, that turnbuckle mechanism did not change over the years, though I may be wrong. Also, have you looked at the mechanism on the other headlight pod to see if it matches? And have you referenced the other headlight pod in the up position, assuming that it is correctly adjusted, to see the relative orientations of parts #5 and #10?
     
  11. spike308

    spike308 F1 Rookie
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    heck yes!
    fixed it!!
    it made way more sense to have the headlight up....
    then loosen the bolt, pry it loose, realign....
    made no sense to my pea brain when light down...
    FIXED!
    many thanks!
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  12. Anthony Rapuano

    Anthony Rapuano Karting

    Aug 16, 2022
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    Good for you! Always a good feeling to successfully fix a problem yourself, large or small.
     
  13. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

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    Easy to see it is not correct
     
  14. spike308

    spike308 F1 Rookie
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    thanks for the help!
    I don't think it is possible to realign when light pod is down. that's what hung me up...
    painfully obvious when light pod was up.
    never underestimate my stupidity !
     
  15. 308 milano

    308 milano F1 Veteran

    Jan 15, 2007
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    You’re being way too hard on yourself. Now you know how it’s accomplished and can help someone else.
    If you’re not trying, and screwing things up occasionally, you’re not moving forward! Well done!
     

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