72pig rear window alignment

[Ironpig72]

Just finished a rebuild on my 55 rear window motor and assembly and all is working. I got excited and quickly I re-clocked the metal window track and used 3M window glue to reattach the glass following the old glue marks as a reference point. When I reinstalled the glass it sits totally out of balance and only goes down quarter of the way before binding. The two main gears that the actuating arms are attached to are not lined up evenly.
Did I screw up reinstalling the window to the metal track (I glued it in more or less center) or is there a way to adjust the gears so the actuating arms level the window so it travels up and down level. I’m totally a newbie here so please forgive me if this doesn’t make any sense.
Thanks

 

[stumpofj40]

Search ‘tailgate rebuilding 101’
Some pretty good info there

 

[scrapdaddy]

Did the lifting arms, with the gears on their end, get misaligned? They have to mesh at the right point or the glass will run up cocked. Put a scribe a mark between the gears where they mesh now, then move the arms by hand until they unmesh? and remesh them closer to even, tooth for tooth. You'll have to remove the glass and track to adjust. Please be careful, those springs are strong. Hope some of that makes sense.

 

[Ironpig72]

That sounds like what the problem is. Though how do you move the arms. They seem to be locked in place.

 

[scrapdaddy]

You have to take everything apart. Remove glass and track from the two arms, remove the whole motor and gears assembly. You'll then have to clamp the arms to the assembly before removing the motor. Hold on to the arms very tight when releasing clamp and let the arms slowly down until they disengage, remesh the gears in a new position, check your scribe mark and make sure they don't line because you want the arms to track different. Can't remember, but the gear teeth should be close to being equal in the beginning. It's a good idea to clamp the whole assembly in a vise, etc. so you have both hands free for the realignment. Those springs are very strong. I'll look for some pictures.

 

[scrapdaddy]

This whole assembly has to come out and the motor removed to adjust the meshing of the two gears...when the motor loses contact with the two arms, the arms will snap back, so hold onto them or clamp to the frame.

 

[Ironpig72]

Thank you this is very helpful.
I almost lost my thumb nail with the spring loaded arms so the clamps and vice is a great tip.

The only guess work is the lining up of the gears. I have no idea how to know if I’ve gotten it right so the glass and track move level up and down.

Trial and error?

 

[scrapdaddy]

When you have the motor out and can move the two gears by hand, run them up until the two ends come together ( Look at the picture above ) if they are within a couple teeth of each other then you're in the ballpark. Yes, trail and error, sorry. On the bright side, you will be an expert at tailgate 101 when done. In the picture below you can see the top of the two gears will not come together, now look at the ends of the arms, they need to be level when bolted in the gate. Good luck man, I'll drink a beer for you.

 

[Ironpig72]

Got it!
Your are saving me some bloody knuckles and migraines

Beers on me!
Thank you Thank you