Headlight doors not closing???

[WHITE AND RED 69]

I just replaced the entire headlight door setup (new vacuum can & repro hose kit) on my 69 and the doors will not close? I checked the lines, can, switch, pods, and tee fittings and all is fine but the doors still won't close? No leaks or hissing anywhere. My old setup was rigged to work without the vacuum can and worked perfectly until the hoses broke from age so I know there is plenty of vacuum to make them work.  

I have the yellow striped lines going to the top of the vacuum pods, the plain black lines to the bottom, the large line from the manifold to the can, the green striped line from can to the switch, and the rest to the switch so I'm pretty sure it is hooked up correctly. Any ideas on why they won't close? For the money I spent I should have just upgraded to the electric motors.  

[Dino]

Your routing is correct, no problem there.  So either the vacuum fitting on the switch is not seated properly or there's something physically stopping the doors.  I've heard of bad repro pods so you may need to check those as well.

See if you can close the doors by hand with everything hooked up first.  Disconnect the clip holding the door mechanism to the pod, disconnect the hoses at the T fittings and suck on each end to see if the pod arm goes up and down.  If it doesn't then you have your answer.

I hope it's an easy fix.   

[myk]

Or if you're out of shape like me just use a vacuum pump on the fittings.

The doors worked before the new can?

[WHITE AND RED 69]

Your routing is correct, no problem there.  So either the vacuum fitting on the switch is not seated properly or there's something physically stopping the doors.  I've heard of bad repro pods so you may need to check those as well.

See if you can close the doors by hand with everything hooked up first.  Disconnect the clip holding the door mechanism to the pod, disconnect the hoses at the T fittings and suck on each end to see if the pod arm goes up and down.  If it doesn't then you have your answer.

I hope it's an easy fix.   

Thanks Dirk, I'll start testing the pods. What's the story on the bad vacuum canisters?

Or if you're out of shape like me just use a vacuum pump on the fittings.

The doors worked before the new can?

A pump would be easier    It worked before I pulled the hose on accident and it snapped. They were old and in need of replacement. Never had the can the whole time I owned it, it was bypassed right into the manifold fitting but always worked perfectly. So i'm confused to why adding the can and new hoses would cause issues?

[fy469rtse]

Just swap the hoses over so that they open , that way you will know the vacuum works ,
My money on the head light switch vac part , not seated properly

[Dino]

Thanks Dirk, I'll start testing the pods. What's the story on the bad vacuum canisters?

I forget who but a member here had one or two repros that didn't work properly.

Did you have the time to test them?

[fy469rtse]

Have you got the hoses right way round on can ?  Theres a Check valve on there as well,
To hold vac,
I recently had mine out whilst I had the engine out , I put it back in and had the hoses back to front there

[tan top]

 silly question , I know     if working before  ,  maybe depris in one of the new lines