Headlight motor replaced with a linear actuator.

I am working on a lift system as we speak. The system I am working on will remove the lift bar but will be an easy installation.

Are you looking for a full opening height or do you have aftermarket low opening headlights?

quote:

Originally posted by ZR1 Pantera:
I am working on a lift system as we speak. The system I am working on will remove the lift bar but will be an easy installation.

Are you looking for a full opening height or do you have aftermarket low opening headlights?

At the moment, I am looking for a full open height but want to keep it simple by just removing the motor, gear assembly and plate then attaching a linear actuator to to the gear plate on the lift bar. I just need to figure out how to build in some adjustability to limit the lift and close height.

That's a good product idea Scott. I will be interested in it when its ready. - Jim

would replacing the old motor with a Taurus power window motor work

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Originally posted by ttam23:
would replacing the old motor with a Taurus power window motor work

I think you can but the change would not be reversible as you would have to cut the mounting plate, similar to the window conversion, to get the pinion gear on the motor to mate up with the gear on the lift bar.

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linear actuator

I might do this mod my self if i can not get my old motor working . looks like you can get a 4" linear actuator on ebay for about $60

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adjustability to limit the lift and close height.

you could get adjustability to limit the lift and close height by cutting two grooves one in a fabricated mounting plate and one in the rotating sprocket . the grooves perpendicular to each other,horizontal on the plate and vertical on the sprocket

I know you want the mechanical / linkage as close as possible, but how do these actuators work? Can you stop them before the end of their travel?

Can you use the limit switches to cut power to the actuator (via relays) when they open as far as you require?

Will they hold the lights in position after they reach the end of their travel? You wouldn't want your lights to keep drooping back down, and you have to keep "pumping them up" every couple of miles...

Just curious.

Rocky

I did a little research on this yesterday and the one I was looking at has built in limiters "The LD Series of linear actuators by Concentric International (formerly Iowa Export-Import) are 12V DC gearmotors that use a worm drive to move a shaft back and forth along its length. The worm drive ensures that the shaft will hold its position even when unpowered. Two limits switches safely stop the motor at either end of its range, while diodes allow it to reverse direction after reaching a limit point. The actuators are mostly metal, and the entire case is sealed to protect against dust and water (rated IP63)."

A word of caution: If you do get a linear actuator prototyped up in your car, be careful with the limit settings, because the mechanical advantage the worm drives have could bend something expensive while you are experimenting.

The original gear drives have a fail safe mode. When they encounter resistance, they simply wimp out and stall the motor.

Very true, thanks.