Electric popup headlight pods
Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:46 pm
Hi all,
following on from my post a few weeks ago about leakage in the headlamp vacuum circuit, I decided to go electric.
I took the whole vacuum system out and each bit was subjected to the 'bicycle tyre repair procedure' ie it was drowned in a bucket of water and air blown through to find the leak. Eventually found it in the push/pull switch.
By then I'd already bought two Ford Probe motors off ChEapbay.
With a small push pull electric switch and a changeover relay from a Auto Electric Supplies everything has gone together easily. Thanks to MikeD and various other Elan.net 'posters' who gave tips and ideas.
The small push pull switch needed a very minor tweek to fit the original knob. After complicated folded aluminium sheetwork, that never really worked or was strong enough, I used small ali brackets that are deceptively strong. The wiring surprised me, being very simple and sorted on the dining room table in less than 20 minutes! Two levers/rods came with the motors but wern't long enough so were cut and extended crudely. I'd like to do something a little more professional. The motor balljoint is approx 13mm and the long bolt from the pod is 5mm. ideally I'd like M5 rod with left and right hand thread with a ball joint on the motor and a rod end at the pod. So far I've been given a quote for M8 fittings for ?7 each from these people: http://www.springfixlinkages.com/catalog.htm but with a ?50 minimum charge applied. Still waiting from another firm who make throttle linkages. Any other suggestions out there.
Once the motors were in, the wiring in and connected, I noticed the actuating arms 180degrees out to each other - couldn't resist it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yDrtGmrbFI
Also attached a few pics of motors in and wiring - hope it helps anbody else contemplating the same. MikeD tells me his motors look similar but have only three wires and require another relay.
following on from my post a few weeks ago about leakage in the headlamp vacuum circuit, I decided to go electric.
I took the whole vacuum system out and each bit was subjected to the 'bicycle tyre repair procedure' ie it was drowned in a bucket of water and air blown through to find the leak. Eventually found it in the push/pull switch.
By then I'd already bought two Ford Probe motors off ChEapbay.
With a small push pull electric switch and a changeover relay from a Auto Electric Supplies everything has gone together easily. Thanks to MikeD and various other Elan.net 'posters' who gave tips and ideas.
The small push pull switch needed a very minor tweek to fit the original knob. After complicated folded aluminium sheetwork, that never really worked or was strong enough, I used small ali brackets that are deceptively strong. The wiring surprised me, being very simple and sorted on the dining room table in less than 20 minutes! Two levers/rods came with the motors but wern't long enough so were cut and extended crudely. I'd like to do something a little more professional. The motor balljoint is approx 13mm and the long bolt from the pod is 5mm. ideally I'd like M5 rod with left and right hand thread with a ball joint on the motor and a rod end at the pod. So far I've been given a quote for M8 fittings for ?7 each from these people: http://www.springfixlinkages.com/catalog.htm but with a ?50 minimum charge applied. Still waiting from another firm who make throttle linkages. Any other suggestions out there.
Once the motors were in, the wiring in and connected, I noticed the actuating arms 180degrees out to each other - couldn't resist it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yDrtGmrbFI
Also attached a few pics of motors in and wiring - hope it helps anbody else contemplating the same. MikeD tells me his motors look similar but have only three wires and require another relay.