Light switch trouble

[tom/illinois]

Having trouble with my light switch pulling all the way out. Did this when I got the car 4 years ago ('47 tudor sedan). Replaced the switch then but that didn't fix it. You just have to feel your way when you turn on the lights. Maybe the knob/rod is the problem, you don't get that with a new switch. Anyone else had this trouble?

[ken ct]

Is the horse shoe clip in there?? ken ct.

[tom/illinois]

Hi Ken. Is the horseshoe clip a separate piece from the switch itself, if so then thats what's missing.

[Old Henry]

This should be your switch:
(Available here: http://macsautoparts.com/early-v8-fo...0R3CHL1073886/)



And this should be your knob:
(Available here: https://secure435.hostgator.com/~dlv...=343&t=2072&tn=)




No horseshoe clip involved as you can see. If you don't have these two parts it won't work right.

If you want authentic trim you'll need this nut shown below:
(Available here: https://secure435.hostgator.com/~dlv...tAddTpCart.y=4)








And here's how the knob with shaft go on and off:



My guess is that you are not installing the knob/shaft correctly. You have to push it in turned 1/4 turn to the left then straighten it up and it should be secure. That's how I put mine in and it worked just as described.

[ken ct]

Opps missed the fact it was 47,was thinking earlier ones. Bottom of steering columb. ken ct.

[tom/illinois]

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Thanks Old Henry I'll give it a try again later this week.

[Rand]

Kinda related question?? will a bad head light switch cause the head lights to be dim? When I first turn them on they are dim and then they get brighter. Maybe ground problem? (50 Merc)
Thanks..Randy

[Dec211975]

Rand,
It appears you have a loose connection some place that when it gets warm tightens up! I would suspect the ground first but it could be the supply side, you can check both ground and power sides by checking voltage drop with a volt meter, I prefer an analog meter to do this over a digital. Brian

[Old Henry]

Originally Posted by Rand

Kinda related question?? will a bad head light switch cause the head lights to be dim? When I first turn them on they are dim and then they get brighter. Maybe ground problem? (50 Merc)
Thanks..Randy

Originally Posted by Dec211975

Rand,
It appears you have a loose connection some place that when it gets warm tightens up! I would suspect the ground first but it could be the supply side, you can check both ground and power sides by checking voltage drop with a volt meter, I prefer an analog meter to do this over a digital. Brian

And, you can eliminate the switch and wiring by just running a jumper wire from the battery terminal directly to the bulb to see if it's any better. If so, you know the wiring and/or switch is weak. Then jump over the switch and see if that improves it. If so, it's the switch. If not, it's the wiring. If none of that helps jump to ground from the ground terminal of the bulb and see if that helps. If so, it's the ground. Run a seperate ground wire.

[Rand]

Thanks Brain and Henry...Ill try what you suggest and see what I can work out
Thanks again,
Randy

[TJ]

Check the connections on your dimmer switch also.

[Bruce Lancaster]

You can disassemble the HL switch and also the dimmer by a bit of careful prying. My experience is that the switches are very durable and the contacts are generally not damaged or burned, they are just clogged with dirt and petrified grease. A good cleaning and a bit of clean grease and they are ready for another 65 years or so.

[Old Henry]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lancaster

You can disassemble the HL switch and also the dimmer by a bit of careful prying. My experience is that the switches are very durable and the contacts are generally not damaged or burned, they are just clogged with dirt and petrified grease. A good cleaning and a bit of clean grease and they are ready for another 65 years or so.

Or, if a dirty switch is a problem, without dismanteling it you can just squirt a bunch of WD40 into it and work it and it will clean itself up. I did that with a lot of my switches after they'd sat for 31 years. Worked fine.

[Shu47]

If you are trying to clean out the switch then what Old Henry recommends will normally work pretty well. Just keep in mind that W49 is not a lubricant so if you want it to lube it then I would recommend following Bruce's advice. And taking the switch apart is not that hard.

[Lawson Cox]

And just what is W49? LOL

[Old Henry]

Originally Posted by Lawson Cox

And just what is W49? LOL

The W49 was an American thermonuclear warhead. (Read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W49)

That should clean the switch out good.


(True, it is not a lubricant . . . but much, much more. )

[tom/illinois]

Old Henry I would have used W49 on my switch if I had it available, but with your help it now works great. Thanks Henry and Fordbarn.

[Shu47]

OOPS WD40

No typo goes unpunished..... LOL