I have a 87 TA, and have been pulled over twice in 2 weeks, cause my drivers side headlight, "jitters" and is a distraction to other drivers. Yesterday, I ordered the headlight motor repair kit from Lon on Top-DownSoultions.com I hope this will help, once the gear is repaired, I hope they will stay nice and stiff with no play while they are up. I will reply one I receive the kit with my results.

 

I had this same problem even after I rebuilt the motors. The looseness doesn't have anything to do with the motor. It's all with the connecting rods that connect the motor to the headlight housing and moves it up and down. Check the nuts that hold those connecting rods to the housing and the motor, chances are, one of those is loose. That's what was wrong with mine and I fixed it by just tightening the nut. PITA, but I got it. Good luck.