How much tension should the shaft spring for the head light covers be under. Just enough to keep covers retracted or should it be loaded by turning the shaft a 1/2 or full turn before engaging the shaft shoulder into the cover. The covers stay up fine and are easy to pull down with out loading but the spring end does not maintain very firm contact with the tension plate and seems kind of loosely coiled on the shaft.
Should be enough spring tension to open the covers. The vacuum actuator pulls against the springs to keep them closed. With covers open, the spring is not wound very tight.
Okay. I tried loading the spring and it was obvious that the vacuum would not be able to pull the cover back down. It has been nearly seven years since disassembly at memory is fading!
I actually run mine with less spring tension so the covers stay closed after vacuum goes away:
Need headlight doors open - Cougar Community / Classic Cougar Maintenance Restoration and Repair - Classic Cougar Community Forum