Hidden headlight doors slamming shut

Posted By: WILD BILL

Hidden headlight doors slamming shut - 08/14/13 09:18 PM

I finally got a relay wired in so the hidden headlights on our 72 charger open and close when you turn the lights on and off.

Now they seem to open slow and smooth yet when they close they come down fast and hard.

Is this normal or is there some way I can adjust the motor or rods or something so they operate smoothly in both directions?

Posted By: dart4forte

Re: Hidden headlight doors slamming shut - 08/14/13 09:27 PM

There should be some rubber bumpers that handle some of that problem

Posted By: WILD BILL

Re: Hidden headlight doors slamming shut - 08/14/13 09:39 PM

Yes, but as fast and hard as these doors are coming down they help much.

I'm afraid they're going to get broken off if this keeps up like this.

Posted By: DAYCLONA

Re: Hidden headlight doors slamming shut - 08/14/13 09:43 PM

Do you have the torsion springs installed on each headlite door?,if so are they tensioned properly so they assist (unwind) the door in lifting/opening, the spring must wind up as the door closes, this way the door has some resistance going down, could be the springs are fatigued?

Posted By: WILD BILL

Re: Hidden headlight doors slamming shut - 08/14/13 09:51 PM

There is a spring on the drivers side but not the passengers side.

I have no way of knowing if it's adjusted properly though.

Posted By: WILD BILL

Re: Hidden headlight doors slamming shut - 08/14/13 09:54 PM

Ok, I just looked at it and I guess there is no adjustment for the spring.

Posted By: DAYCLONA

Re: Hidden headlight doors slamming shut - 08/14/13 10:44 PM

Quote:

Ok, I just looked at it and I guess there is no adjustment for the spring.

The spring is "adjusted" by removing the rear tang of the spring off it's stop, and winding it by hand while still on the pivot, and reinstalling the tang under the stop while under tension, with the door held in the closed position, you'll need to remove the V clip on the pivot to remove the drive rod from the motor, out of the slot on the pivot, so that you can set up the spring, then activate the door by hand to see how much tension you have in the up position, and how much resistance you have in the down position, you may need to wind/unwind and reset the spring(s) several times to achieve the desired results opening and closing the doors to your satisfaction,...some Chargers 71-2 have 1 or 2 spring set ups, don't know why?, but that's what I've seen over the years

Posted By: WILD BILL

Re: Hidden headlight doors slamming shut - 08/14/13 10:53 PM

So it's not uncommon to have a srping on one side and not the other?

Posted By: DAYCLONA

Re: Hidden headlight doors slamming shut - 08/14/13 11:02 PM

Quote:

So it's not uncommon to have a srping on one side and not the other?

Generally there's 2,...but I have seen cars with only 1 spring set up, and not just Chargers, but Chrysler 300's as well with shutter lites....if the other door has provisions for a spring, add it, or make provisions for a spring if desired, as the cast doors of the 71/2 Chargers are heavy, the springs are the same either side, and install the same way

Posted By: WILD BILL

Re: Hidden headlight doors slamming shut - 08/14/13 11:08 PM

I swapped the spring from the drivers to the passenger side and that seemed to help a bit.

I can't for the life of me get another full wrap of tension on the spring though.

Perhaps I just need a new spring or maybe a new one for each side.

Posted By: WILD BILL

Re: Hidden headlight doors slamming shut - 08/14/13 11:20 PM

DO you happen to know of anyplace that has the right style of spring?

Posted By: DAYCLONA

Re: Hidden headlight doors slamming shut - 08/14/13 11:21 PM

Quote:

I swapped the spring from the drivers to the passenger side and that seemed to help a bit.

I can't for the life of me get another full wrap of tension on the spring though.

Perhaps I just need a new spring or maybe a new one for each side.

Another spring would help, but to my knowledge only good used is available, I don't think anyone is rebopping them?, and the 71/2 Charger springs are just that 71/2 Charger, the other Chrysler models are too large, although they might work?

Member Daytona R/T SE (Mike) over at DodgeCharger.com has a pretty good stash of 71/2 grilles/parts, try PM him over there?

Mike

Posted By: Magnumguy

Re: Hidden headlight doors slamming shut - 08/15/13 08:33 PM

I think it's how the work, do they open up or down? When they go down, the weight of those lids helps them "close", and going up is slower.

The Magnums have the same setup, except when they open they drop, but these are plastic and not nearly as heavy. This might be why the "clunk" when they drop.