The Ford Barn

Ken Bull · 08-08-2013, 02:03 PM

Took my 36 Cabriolet for a excersize drive today

Stopped at a friends shop for a few minutes & no start

After some diag. found the Ing switch not working so jumped to get home & replace switch

This was the 1st time this part was an issue for me. Any Tips?

Gary Duff · 08-08-2013, 03:05 PM

Ken----Replace with NOS Ford switch plate and brush. Fits 32 thru 37.
The remakes are warped junk. I just fixed a 37 that failed on the way home from Tahoe meet. Check the resistance when you are done installing new parts, before you connect wires. Should be .1 ohm or less.

Gary

NormC · 08-08-2013, 03:31 PM

I had the same issue in my 36 pickup.

Clean the contact on the plate and adjust the brush to increase the spring pressure.

Norm

bluardun · 08-08-2013, 06:05 PM

I too had an issue with the brass "brush". It is a moving part that is 75 years old. Has to wear out. The origional ones are getting hard to find. Thanks to a gentleman here on the Barn, I was able to replace mine with a NOS brush.

russcc · 08-08-2013, 06:29 PM

Stacy, Arlington TX has NOS. 817 275 2381

Clem Clement · 08-08-2013, 06:41 PM

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I loosened the screws on mine and it recovered. We found that on another switch I have, if the screws are too tight it warps the case.

Gary Tosel · 08-08-2013, 11:02 PM

I realize that the manufacturers of replacement parts list the ignition switch as 32-37, but in 37 they reversed the "on" direction from down (32-36) to up for 37 so the switch would not work the same.

mike42 · 08-09-2013, 04:32 AM

Bull.....

I had a similar problem with my '40 switch. I bought two from Mac's and neither of them worked so I sent them both back. I bought one from C & G.....and it worked. I also noticed that is was manufactured better. I have no way of knowing if it was made by another company or not, but bang....it worked immediately after putting it in.

Mike

Ken Bull · 08-09-2013, 12:46 PM

I took it apart, cleaned the contacts, bent the brush a little at each end put together & works good. Will keep a jumper wire in glove compartment for insurance. Thanks all for the tips

Obsolete Jim · 08-24-2013, 12:28 AM

Actually Ford made the On-Off position change in Late '36.

G.M. · 08-24-2013, 08:12 AM

Ken and Norm, you got it. You should take the little rounded contacts and run them over 1000 sand paper on a flat surface. This will give you little flats on the bottom for better contact area. I have never seen a seen a relay with round contact surfaces. Also sand the wear and arc marks out of the flat contact plate and finish with 800 or 1000 paper again on a flat plate. The original plates were milled with a fly cutter or shaper and had big ridges and groves, along with the round contacts this is what started the arcing. G.M.

Artiki · 06-12-2017, 12:32 PM

Cheers guys. Bringing this back from the archives with a thank you. Had the same issue with a '38 I've just bought and it was the contacts in the switch. Used G.M.'s methods of flatting them with 1000 grit lubed with Plusgas, and all is good.

Karl Wolf · 06-12-2017, 08:23 PM

If you're running a bunch of electrics, it's possible to use a relay. The ignition switch would only have to run power to operate the relay. I have a bunch of Bosch 40 amp relays from old car projects- that's what I use.
I put them into the headlight circuits of my old Ford pick up as the head lamps I used would use amperage that would melt the dimmer switch.

Karl

08-08-2013, 02:03 PM	#1
Ken Bull Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Port St Lucie Florida Posts: 398	Ignition switch failure Took my 36 Cabriolet for a excersize drive today Stopped at a friends shop for a few minutes & no start After some diag. found the Ing switch not working so jumped to get home & replace switch This was the 1st time this part was an issue for me. Any Tips?

08-08-2013, 03:05 PM	#2
Gary Duff Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 23	Re: Ignition switch failure Ken----Replace with NOS Ford switch plate and brush. Fits 32 thru 37. The remakes are warped junk. I just fixed a 37 that failed on the way home from Tahoe meet. Check the resistance when you are done installing new parts, before you connect wires. Should be .1 ohm or less. Gary

08-08-2013, 03:31 PM	#3
NormC Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Flowery Branch, GA Posts: 80	Re: Ignition switch failure I had the same issue in my 36 pickup. Clean the contact on the plate and adjust the brush to increase the spring pressure. Norm

08-08-2013, 06:05 PM	#4
bluardun Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tucson, Az. Posts: 322	Re: Ignition switch failure I too had an issue with the brass "brush". It is a moving part that is 75 years old. Has to wear out. The origional ones are getting hard to find. Thanks to a gentleman here on the Barn, I was able to replace mine with a NOS brush.

08-08-2013, 06:29 PM	#5
russcc Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,871	Re: Ignition switch failure Stacy, Arlington TX has NOS. 817 275 2381

08-08-2013, 06:41 PM	#6
Clem Clement Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 3,393	Re: Ignition switch failure Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I loosened the screws on mine and it recovered. We found that on another switch I have, if the screws are too tight it warps the case. Last edited by Clem Clement; 08-09-2013 at 10:19 AM.

08-08-2013, 11:02 PM	#7
Gary Tosel Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,137	Re: Ignition switch failure I realize that the manufacturers of replacement parts list the ignition switch as 32-37, but in 37 they reversed the "on" direction from down (32-36) to up for 37 so the switch would not work the same. Last edited by Gary Tosel; 08-08-2013 at 11:02 PM. Reason: spelling error

08-09-2013, 04:32 AM	#8
mike42 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Gaylord, Michigan Posts: 1,599	Re: Ignition switch failure Bull..... I had a similar problem with my '40 switch. I bought two from Mac's and neither of them worked so I sent them both back. I bought one from C & G.....and it worked. I also noticed that is was manufactured better. I have no way of knowing if it was made by another company or not, but bang....it worked immediately after putting it in. Mike

08-09-2013, 12:46 PM	#9
Ken Bull Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Port St Lucie Florida Posts: 398	Re: Ignition switch failure I took it apart, cleaned the contacts, bent the brush a little at each end put together & works good. Will keep a jumper wire in glove compartment for insurance. Thanks all for the tips

08-24-2013, 12:28 AM	#10
Obsolete Jim Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 20	Re: Ignition switch failure Actually Ford made the On-Off position change in Late '36. __________________ Obsolete Jim

08-24-2013, 08:12 AM	#11
G.M. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida and Penna. Posts: 4,471	Re: Ignition switch failure Ken and Norm, you got it. You should take the little rounded contacts and run them over 1000 sand paper on a flat surface. This will give you little flats on the bottom for better contact area. I have never seen a seen a relay with round contact surfaces. Also sand the wear and arc marks out of the flat contact plate and finish with 800 or 1000 paper again on a flat plate. The original plates were milled with a fly cutter or shaper and had big ridges and groves, along with the round contacts this is what started the arcing. G.M. __________________ www.fordcollector.com

06-12-2017, 12:32 PM	#12
Artiki Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Brum... Posts: 51	Re: Ignition switch failure Cheers guys. Bringing this back from the archives with a thank you. Had the same issue with a '38 I've just bought and it was the contacts in the switch. Used G.M.'s methods of flatting them with 1000 grit lubed with Plusgas, and all is good.

06-12-2017, 08:23 PM	#13
Karl Wolf Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mill Valley,Ca. Posts: 1,509	Re: Ignition switch failure If you're running a bunch of electrics, it's possible to use a relay. The ignition switch would only have to run power to operate the relay. I have a bunch of Bosch 40 amp relays from old car projects- that's what I use. I put them into the headlight circuits of my old Ford pick up as the head lamps I used would use amperage that would melt the dimmer switch. Karl