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Wedge TR7 headlamp problem

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srmorse

Jedi Hopeful
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Finally a couple good days to start putting the TR7 back together. Got just about everything done, but am having a strange problem with one headlamp. When I turn on the lamps one comes up a little slower than the other, is a little more dim, and there is a rapid ticking from the run/stop relay in withthe fuse panel and at the same time the knob on the actuator is moving approx 1/4" back and forth. The other is just fine. My first thought is a bad connection or shaky ground connection, but I'm not sure of common places to try.

So first question is where to start looking?

--Saul
 
My first thought is a bad ground. Now, since I havn't made it to the headlights in my disassembly, i can't tell you where exactly to look.

When you say "knob on the actuator" you mean the knob on the motor itself?
 
Looks like I'll be fishing soon for wires...

It is the knob right on the actuator motor (the one you'd turn manually if the headlamp didn't raise).

I'm guessing something got jarred loose when I was disassembling in the fall.
 
Have you tried lubing all the hinged points on the assembly. i have parted several tr7/8 over the years and have ran across many with stiff or rusted in place pivot rod arms or stiff hinges.

i also have an article of servicing the headlight lift mechanism per the BL Recall Campaign that i can scan and email to you if you like.

Clifton Davis
"aka" tr7sprint
78 FHC tr7
79 FHC tr7
 
I actually did lube the mechanism when in there and removing the rubber headlight surround...but this definitely seems electrical rather than mechanical. I know there is a circuit breaker that resets if tripped (in case the headlights up progress is impeded), but I doubt it would rest itself 2-3 times per second and I've verified that there is nothing in its way when coming up.

I would also love to see the servicing procedure though...you never know when it will come in handy and it is probably a lot more comprehensive than what I have now!!!
grin.gif
 
this just came up on another tr7/8 forum i'm on.


Practical Classics
Magazine has an article on trouble shooting the Wedge headlight mechanism in
their April edition. A little short on real juicy technical info, but
their method is sound and in my opinion the pictures are worth the price
of the magazine. As good as having the parts in front of you on the
workbench and much better than any of the illustrations in the workshop
manuals we have access to.


Clifton Davis
 
i also have an article of servicing the headlight lift mechanism per the BL Recall Campaign that i can scan and email to you if you like.

Clifton Davis
"aka" tr7sprint
78 FHC tr7
79 FHC tr7[/QB][/QUOTE]
Sounds like a good read! Could you post it on this forum? In the tech tips maybe.
 
i try to post in the tech section later this week.

maybe if i sucessful in posting this article, i'll scan pages from my BL service technical bulletin notebook (over 300 pages of triumph recall and service bulletins,mostly spitfire,tr6 and tr7 stuff).


Clifton Davis
78 FHC
79 FHC
 
I'm new here, but I was wondering if I could get a copy of the troubleshooting info for wedge headlights?

I have a 75 tr7 and a 80 tr8, both of which have some issues with the headlights operating properly.


Thanks
 
Have seen this sort of strangeness more than once on my own 7. If it makes no sense but it works it must be Lucas. Will be playing with my headlamps to see if I can get them up together for more than a couple cycles. Also need to adjust the stops so the left one doesn't wiggle.
May decide to leave them alone another 6 months for fear of letting the smoke out if I try to improve on them, and as you all know it is the smoke that makes all Lucas stuff work and smoke leaks always indicate a component failure.
 
Knock on wood I might have found the problem...One of the tabs on the license plate lamps broke and the circuit was not being completed. I fixed it and a nice side benefit was the headlamp started behaving...we'll see over the next few days how it goes.
 
I have this exact same problem. I was wondering what you ever did to fix it.


srmorse said:
Finally a couple good days to start putting the TR7 back together. Got just about everything done, but am having a strange problem with one headlamp. When I turn on the lamps one comes up a little slower than the other, is a little more dim, and there is a rapid ticking from the run/stop relay in withthe fuse panel and at the same time the knob on the actuator is moving approx 1/4" back and forth. The other is just fine. My first thought is a bad connection or shaky ground connection, but I'm not sure of common places to try.

So first question is where to start looking?

--Saul
Click to expand...
 
jkosturik said:
I have this exact same problem. I was wondering what you ever did to fix it.
Click to expand...

Fixed!


I pulled the switch and took it apart. I did not see anything wrong with it. I tried the new switch and still same problem so ruled out the switch. I went to the right (dim broken) headlight and disconnected the connection and turned the lights on. The motors both worked correctly and the left headlight worked fine. So I ruled the problem down to the wiring for the right headlight.


I verified the wiring I saw with the wiring diagram:


Left Headlight
Black to Black
Blue/White to Blue/White
Blue/Pink to Blue/Red


Right Headlight
Black to Black
Blue/Red to Blue/Red
Blue/White to Blue/White


I noticed the wires a few inches had been spliced by the previous owner. I love blaming stuff on the previous owner. I figured one of the connections in the splices had to be had and based on the symptoms it seemed it had to be the ground. I undid the ground and re did the connection. And that fixed it!


Took me a while but its done. Check that one off the list.


On to the next repair.
 
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