The Ford Barn

Bruce in southern OH · 07-31-2016, 08:11 PM

Installed the new brake light switch, works fine with foot operation, had a location the other night I needed to use emergency brake in parking lot. Brake light comes on, I know why, because of location of switch, but what did they do in the day, cannot leave emergency brake on, run battery down?

Pat/Ohio · 07-31-2016, 08:56 PM

Bruce, I had the same problem with my Model B roadster a few years back. I believe the cure is to adjust your brake linkage. I had too much travel at the emergency brake lever, which allowed the brake light switch to engage. It's been a while, but I believe that is what I did. Good luck, Pat

Bruce in southern OH · 08-01-2016, 06:22 AM

I will check that, seems I am only moving the emergency brake lever two to three clicks. I wanted the brake peddle to make light come on with very little pressure/movement so I do not get ran over. Still thinking of a cure, thank you Pat ( very nice Tudor )

Gary-UK · 08-01-2016, 06:40 AM

If you don't have a brake pedal return spring fitted that can happen. The pedal should stay in the upright position with brake lights off when the parking brake is applied.

This assumes that everything is set up stock, with the switch on the transmission hooked up to the pin on the brake pedal.

DavidG · 08-01-2016, 10:49 AM

When you adjust the clevises on the rods at the cross shaft, the arms on the cross shaft for the front and rear brake rods need to line up vertically with one another. That provides the most leverage for braking and the quickest response time. If you have the correct rod from the hand brake to the cross shaft, your brake lights will not activate when using it, even with the hand brake lever pulled back to the maximum.

Gary-UK raises a good point. If you have a lazy brake pedal, the light switch rod may not reach the off position, i.e. when the spring to the switch is stronger than the pedal return spring.

Bored&Stroked · 08-01-2016, 11:20 AM

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Good information guys - because my 32 suffers from the same problem and I have been too lazy to adjust everything. When I put the new transmission in, this will get done and I'll take some pictures to boot. (This won't happen until the Fall).

Bruce in southern OH · 08-01-2016, 03:31 PM

Gary-UK, that is it, I will add a spring, the reason I say that is the same time I found that pulling emergency brake made light come on, I also found if I parked down hill that the brake light was on without EM brake applied, thanks everyone, always count on the BARN info!!!!!!

07-31-2016, 08:11 PM	#1
Bruce in southern OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Proctorville Posts: 1,582	32 Brake light switch/emergency brake? Installed the new brake light switch, works fine with foot operation, had a location the other night I needed to use emergency brake in parking lot. Brake light comes on, I know why, because of location of switch, but what did they do in the day, cannot leave emergency brake on, run battery down?

07-31-2016, 08:56 PM	#2
Pat/Ohio Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wilmington, OH/Lakeland, FL Posts: 952	Re: 32 Brake light switch/emergency brake? Bruce, I had the same problem with my Model B roadster a few years back. I believe the cure is to adjust your brake linkage. I had too much travel at the emergency brake lever, which allowed the brake light switch to engage. It's been a while, but I believe that is what I did. Good luck, Pat

08-01-2016, 06:22 AM	#3
Bruce in southern OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Proctorville Posts: 1,582	Re: 32 Brake light switch/emergency brake? I will check that, seems I am only moving the emergency brake lever two to three clicks. I wanted the brake peddle to make light come on with very little pressure/movement so I do not get ran over. Still thinking of a cure, thank you Pat ( very nice Tudor )

08-01-2016, 06:40 AM	#4
Gary-UK Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Parkgate, England Posts: 106	Re: 32 Brake light switch/emergency brake? If you don't have a brake pedal return spring fitted that can happen. The pedal should stay in the upright position with brake lights off when the parking brake is applied. This assumes that everything is set up stock, with the switch on the transmission hooked up to the pin on the brake pedal.

08-01-2016, 10:49 AM	#5
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,101	Re: 32 Brake light switch/emergency brake? When you adjust the clevises on the rods at the cross shaft, the arms on the cross shaft for the front and rear brake rods need to line up vertically with one another. That provides the most leverage for braking and the quickest response time. If you have the correct rod from the hand brake to the cross shaft, your brake lights will not activate when using it, even with the hand brake lever pulled back to the maximum. Gary-UK raises a good point. If you have a lazy brake pedal, the light switch rod may not reach the off position, i.e. when the spring to the switch is stronger than the pedal return spring.

08-01-2016, 11:20 AM	#6
Bored&Stroked Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 5,067	Re: 32 Brake light switch/emergency brake? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Good information guys - because my 32 suffers from the same problem and I have been too lazy to adjust everything. When I put the new transmission in, this will get done and I'll take some pictures to boot. (This won't happen until the Fall).

08-01-2016, 03:31 PM	#7
Bruce in southern OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Proctorville Posts: 1,582	Re: 32 Brake light switch/emergency brake? Gary-UK, that is it, I will add a spring, the reason I say that is the same time I found that pulling emergency brake made light come on, I also found if I parked down hill that the brake light was on without EM brake applied, thanks everyone, always count on the BARN info!!!!!!