How do you restore a Brake Light Switch ?

[steve hackel]

Evening; I have a great switch, solid and little to no rust. I disassembled
it as much as possible and sent the components out for plating. Ok, I have
the parts back from the plater, but I can't seem to make the assembly

conduct current as the rod is pulled and the spring is compressed. I am
assuming that this pull process should make the contacts come together
inside the housing and allow electrical current to flow from the source
on out to the brake lights? Mine "seems" completely back-wards from
this thought process.... I am assuming that this is an original, but could be wrong, so is it possible that I have some repro that works the opposite

of what an original should be? Anyone have a close up picture of what
theirs is like & what an original should look like. Latest project...

[bbrocksr]

When the brake pedal is pressed the spring pushes the rod and closes the points.
When the brake pedal returns it pushes the rod and compresses the spring and opens the points. Spring is in the wrong place.
Bill

[PalAl]

Steve have you seen this video?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsfWFf80Y70

[Patrick L.]

I think we need to know which switch you have.

[KGBnut]

Didn't the 28/29 switches, and the 30/31 switches work in opposite directions? One was a pull, one was a push... Or, am I remembering that wrong?

Ken

[JKY]

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Originally Posted by KGBnut

Didn't the 28/29 switches, and the 30/31 switches work in opposite directions? One was a pull, one was a push... Or, am I remembering that wrong?

Ken

You are correct.

[katy]

My bad

[steve hackel]

Sorry, the switch I have is the later 30/31 style, and it's not a starter switch.

The video is interesting and does show a lot in the side view, but my switch has the fixed screw connectors and not the post style of the 28/29. Post #@ ; Bill, the spring
can only go in one place, and the small fiber washer can only go on one end of the spring, as the other (wrong) end would be contacting the housing, shaft, and spring and do nothing for the points and connections. Still playing with it .

[Bob C]

On the 30-31 switch the contacts are normally closed and when you push the plunger
in the contacts are open.

[steve hackel]

Ok, school.me on that one.?
If the contacts are normally closed, then they would be providing power - or ground - and when tge plunger is activated, that function would cancel the power or ground. If true , what am I missing here ?

[Bob C]

When you apply the brakes the rod from the brake pedal to the cross shaft
moves away from the brake light switch allowing the plunger to move forward and
the contacts to close. When you release the brakes the rod moves rearward and
pushes the plunger in opening the contacts.

[steve hackel]

sort of makes sense to me now. so the brake rod that's in the normal position of the
brakes not being applied, is holding the switch in the open position, and when the
brake pedal is depressed it's allowing the rod within the brake light switch to move
and allow the points to close and activate the brake lights.... My appreciation

to all those who contributed to my now expanded knowledge of a brake light switch !

[Patrick L.]

Originally Posted by steve hackel

sort of makes sense to me now. so the brake rod that's in the normal position of the
brakes not being applied, is holding the switch in the open position, and when the
brake pedal is depressed it's allowing the rod within the brake light switch to move
and allow the points to close and activate the brake lights.... My appreciation

to all those who contributed to my now expanded knowledge of a brake light switch !

Yep.

[Bob Bidonde]

Bob C, thanks for posting the cutaway switch picture.