Need Help With A 1932 Ford Part

[34FordFabricator]

I ran across a original 1932 Ford dash light switch. It had just the remnants of the plastic knob which just fell off shortly after I got it. A metal sleeve remained on the switch which I assumed would thread off. But it will not. I tried to clamp the lower part of the shaft between 2 pieces of aluminum so as not to mar it and then unthread the sleeve but it would not budge. Can anyone help as to how it can be removed. The shaft is threaded is it not. Thanks for your help.
Bill

[deuce_roadster]

There is someone here on FB (jimOH I think)that reproduces that switch. Search the Swap Meet forum.

[DavidG]

Bill,


Patience and perseverance; the escutcheon is indeed threaded. The switch you have is what is considered to be the early version, but in reality maybe there were two different suppliers with different wiring connections.

[34FordFabricator]

David,
The escutcheon threads off nicely as I removed the switch from a dash panel. It is the remains of the knob portion I can't unthread.
Bill

[35fordtn]

Bill,
On the ones I have had the knob threads off. I too have had two in which I just could not get it loose without risk of damaging the switch.

[cas3]

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some gentle heat, like jewelers torch or big soldering gun to get some expansion maybe?

[DavidG]

Michael,


Good catch; you're right on an original switch the knob is threaded as well. Perhaps what Bill has is a non-Ford version of the switch. Likely many Ford parts of the past and present, they are often designed by the supplier(s) and could serve several customers needs with minor non-functional differences.

[Bored&Stroked]

Just to ask a dumb question - if it wasn't threaded, then how did they install it in the dash?

[35fordtn]

Originally Posted by Bored&Stroked

Just to ask a dumb question - if it wasn't threaded, then how did they install it in the dash?

I would imagine they are all threaded for that obvious reason, however The can be a bear to remove.

My memory finally came back enough for me to remember what I did... The one I had that would not come off for anything; I used a dremel with a very thin/small cutting wheel and sliced the knob inner portion that was stuck on each side and with a twist of a screwdriver it came off. Granted it did cut a groove into the threads in two places, but they were plenty enough left to serve it's purpose of simply attaching a knob.

[34FordFabricator]

Here is how I finally removed the sleeve from the switch shaft. First I took a piece of aluminum stock 2" wide by 5" long. Drilled a 1/4" hole in it and cut a slit in the aluminum. I put the light switch in the on position and compressed the shank of the switch just below the sleeve in the aluminum hole. The slit allowed me to clamp it in the vise against the shank. Switch was protected from damage by using aluminum. The aluminum also acted as a heat sink to absorb the heat as I headed up the sleeve. My 3 photo shows the tip of the torch used to heat the sleeve but I took the photo after I turned off the torch. Next I clamped a vise grip around the sleeve and it came right out because of the heat applied. The aluminum absorbed the heat so perfectly the the shank near the switch body was not even hot after the sleeve came off. There were nice perfect undamaged threads on the switch after the removal. Thanks for all who replied. The suggestion to use gentle heat was the ticket.
Bill Monzo

[Andy]

Beautiful solution and work.

[glennpm]

Love your "tool". I love to see these informative posts.


Thanks!
Glenn