headlight motors duh!!!

[tr7andtvr]

Wedge headlight motors have to be by far the biggest negative of the entire wedge family. They are 3 times more complex then they ever had to be. Half my fuse box is dedicated to this junk! Whose bright idea was it anyway to put these motors in? They were a piece of junk starting 4 years earlier in the TR7 and someone made the great decision to keep using them….. The TR7 was even a better design in this case at least when they get in a bind on the 7 they don’t crack the fiberglass. If any of you know the guy that came up with the idea to use this junk please forward them this message.

[Wedg1e]

They go back a lot further than 4 years: they started life as windscreen wiper motors.

Know what you mean about the GRP cracking; I have a crack along my wing top caused by the outer pivot seizing. On the early cars the pivots were proper bolts with plain inserts in the pods, so the bolts stayed still and the pods pivotted on them; later TVR cut corners and put threaded inserts in both pod and wing so that as the pods lift and lower, the bolts (or rather, set screws) screw themselves in and out of the wing inserts

The POrsche 924 manged to lift both pods using only one motor, with the pods linked by a bar. It ought to be possible to copy that for a wedge (should you be so inclined ) provided you can clear the radiator, oil cooler and plywood crumple zones...

Otherwise, just strip and rebuild the motors and make sure the electrics are kept dry and all should be well.

[leorest]

I like the simplicity of the Lotus Elite where the induction vacuum (and a solenoid) is used to hold the lights down which are otherwise biased in the up position by a spring. I've got it in mind to go that route if I ever have issues with the current setup.

[tr7andtvr]

I have thought of a universal type simple window motor system. One switch lifts lights and another turns them on.

[tr7andtvr]

The TR7 was the first headlight system right?

[Wedg1e]

tr7andtvr said:

The TR7 was the first headlight system right?

If you mean, was that particular pile of pop-up electrics first used on the TR7, then yes.

TVR managed to shave about 20lbs a side off the installation though, by ditching all the heavy metal

[Red 938]

The wiring dangling under the light pods isnt a help either, always check this first if your lights fail to rise, mine have corroded on both sides, it may save chasing electric round the fuse board, LOL

[rev-erend]

Hey - Triumph also used a wiper motor as the fuel pump on the TR5 & TR6 ..

They used to heat seize on hot days. Another great idea !