Hand brake activates stop light

[Doctor's Ford]

I tested the emergency brake handle that I just installed on my 33 Tudor and noticed that when I activate the hand brake the stop light switch turns on. At the time the handle is engaged the brake foot pedal gets depressed and remains there with the stop lights on. I can cancel the stop light switch activation if I hold the foot pedal upwards with my hands. I strongly suspect there must be some type of spring that I am missing that will return the foot pedal to the upright position when the hand brake is set.

Please look at the setting of my mechanical brakes shown on the photos. I understand that when the stop light switch plunger is depressed the switch circuit is open(resting position) and the stop lights turned off.

What do I need to do to prevent activation of the stop light when using the emergency brake? Thanks for your input

Manuel

[JSeery]

Is the return spring connected to you brake pedal? I see a spring in the photos, but can't tell what it is connect to or if it is connected correctly.

[Charlie Stephens]

I know VERY little about '33's. I thought the brake switch was operated from a pad on the brake pedal. If I am reading the pictures right you are operating the switch from the linkage further back in the brake system. If I am right getting the correct switch and putting it in the correct location would solve your problem.

Charlie Stephens

[petehoovie]

I had this same problem after the break pedal return spring broke on my '34....

[34fordy]

Me too--


QUOTE=petehoovie;1221362]I had this same problem after the break pedal return spring broke on my '34....[/QUOTE]

[ford38v8]

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I see the problem. It happens all the time with those pesky Phillips screws.

[Doctor's Ford]

Originally Posted by JSeery

Is the return spring connected to you brake pedal? I see a spring in the photos, but can't tell what it is connect to or if it is connected correctly.

Is this the large spring around the cross shaft (equalizer)? Where is it attached to? A diagram will be very helpful if available.

Originally Posted by Charlie Stephens

I know VERY little about '33's. I thought the brake switch was operated from a pad on the brake pedal. If I am reading the pictures right you are operating the switch from the linkage further back in the brake system. If I am right getting the correct switch and putting it in the correct location would solve your problem.
Charlie Stephens

This is a RHD car and the switch is not operated from the brake pedal but further back as shown on the photo. You can see a round plate just in front of the switch plunger for this purpose.

[JSeery]

Pull the pedal all the way back, does is stay there? Now push the pedal down an inch or two and release it, does it return to the original position? If all this checks out that spring should be ok, if not you most likely need to change it or install one. I really not sure on the right hand cars how the return spring is setup. Need some of the guys from down under to chime in.

[Doctor's Ford]

Originally Posted by JSeery

Pull the pedal all the way back, does is stay there? Now push the pedal down an inch or two and release it, does it return to the original position? If all this checks out that spring should be ok, if not you most likely need to change it or install one. I really not sure on the right hand cars how the return spring is setup. Need some of the guys from down under to chime in.

It depends on whether the hand brake is engaged or not. When it is not engaged and I push the pedal one or two inches and then release, it returns quickly to the original position. But when the emergency brake is connected the pedal goes down by itself and when I pull it upwards it does not stay there. It becomes completely loose and floppy.

Again, are you talking about the large spring around the cross shaft?

[JSeery]

No, the spring on the pedal itself. A long straight spring from the pedal to the frame.

[Doctor's Ford]

I am missing that one! I was not aware of it. Will look for one in my catalogs.
Thanks

[35fordtn]

The factory part number for the spring you need is a 40-2456 nobody currently reproduces them.

[Doctor's Ford]

Originally Posted by 35fordtn

The factory part number for the spring you need is a 40-2456 nobody currently reproduces them.

Do you know if Roy Nacewicz part # "R-83-1 1933-34 clutch and brake return springs" could be the one?

Please PM me if you carry one

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Doctor's Ford

Do you know if Roy Nacewicz part # "R-83-1 1933-34 clutch and brake return springs" could be the one?

Please PM me if you carry one

Yes, that would be it. I would trust that Roy has faithfully reproduced this spring....

[35fordtn]

Roy had excellent reproductions (likely better than originals), however I believe that he no longer reproduces them. You may give him a call to see. If he doesn't message me as we still have a couple in stock. Fred Wilner at Southside Obsolete likely does as well.

[DavidG]

Manuel,

I don't have access to my '33-'34 Ford of Canada chassis parts catalogue at the present time so I can't verify if the subject spring is the same for both LHD and RHD applications. For what it is worth, on a '32 they are not the same. The overall length is the same, but the orientation of the hooked ends is different. If they are different on '33-'34s, it is highly unlikely that anyone has reproduced the RHD version (whose part number would be 40F-2456) and finding a usable original may be a real challenge. You may end up having to use some generic spring from a hardware supplier.

[Terry,OH]

For the USA cars they look like this 2.4" for the brake and 2.9" for the clutch pedal on the left.

[stan35]

Had the same problem with my '35 Cabriolet. Removed the floor pans and discovered the brake return spring was missing. Used a generic spring from the hardware store and the pedal now returns all the time without setting off the brake light. Stan.

[DavidG]

Terry's helpful photo suggests that the RHD spring might not be different as the hooked end at the front of the spring is on the left side of the coils which would not interfere with the arm on the pedal, assuming that the hole for the rear end of the spring in the cross member is on the right side of the center line of the pedal (front to back).

[35fordtn]

I forgot the car was RHD. Manual, PM your address and I will send one out to you. Hopefully a LHD variation will suit you needs.

[Doctor's Ford]

Originally Posted by DavidG

Terry's helpful photo suggests that the RHD spring might not be different as the hooked end at the front of the spring is on the left side of the coils which would not interfere with the arm on the pedal, assuming that the hole for the rear end of the spring in the cross member is on the right side of the center line of the pedal (front to back).

Originally Posted by 35fordtn

I forgot the car was RHD. Manual, PM your address and I will send one out to you. Hopefully a LHD variation will suit you needs.

Thanks DavidG and 35fordtn. I examined the car closely today. The following is a photo of the lower part of the brake pedal as it enters the center cross member. It was very difficult to get the shot. Are those two holes on the cross member the ones where the rear end of the pedal retraction spring has to be attached? And where do I hook the front end of the spring?

Manuel

[JSeery]

The brake pedal pin, the one that holds the clevis to the brake pedal. Part # B 7533-B.