QuestionQUESTION: I have a 1931 Model A roadster and am trouble with the lights. I have tried to replace the lightswitch body but cannot seem to get the lightswitch rod in the proper position. The horn works. Sometimes the lights work and then they don't. I have the wiring diagram and I do know how to follow a circut but I'm stumped. When the lights are not working, the stop lights do not work either and they should work independent of the light switch. ??????????
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
ANSWER: First, get the mechanic's handbook for the model A from snyders or MARC, or some place. It's by les andrews and is a great book. About $35.
You just have to keep fighting the rod attachment at the bottom of the column. Stay with it until you get the keeper in the correct place. The feed for the brake light comes out of the switch, I think. If you have to take the whole switch apart, that is no big deal. Just follow the diagram and stay with it. It all comes apart and goes back together. Don't be afraid of it. On the keeper, compress the spring while someone pushes down on the switch rod and put it in place. The switch should rotate and work correctly.
Good luck
jack
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QUESTION: Thank you for your reply, Jack.
I have Les Andrew's book and have done everything you describe. Perhaps I just have to keep fiddling with it. The thing that bothers me is that the stop lights do not work either, which would have no bearing on the position of the light switch. Sometimes everything works fine and then the next time nothing works. Beats me!
ANSWER: Confirm that the stop light switch is working. Get that out of the picture. It is a very simple switch that you can also take apart. Confirm that the batt. posts are tight and clean and the ground strap is firmly attached to the frame. If you have one of those batt. cutout, short across that. If everything sometimes works, then it must be an intermitant connection. Something is fooling you. Many of us have put on an extra ground strap from the engine to the frame. There are times when the engine does not have a good ground. Maybe it is the float a mtr. mounts????
Put a jumper around the fuse holder if you have one. I have seen the rivets cause a prob there.
Just hang in there and keep fighting it.
jack
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QUESTION: Just one more question and I promise I won't bug you any more!
How do I determine the correct position of the contact mechanism in the upper part of the light switch body so that it is in the off position? When they assembled cars with this type of light switch, they must have had way to determine the proper orientation between the upper body contact and the wiring harness disc in the lower half.
AnswerI can't answer you, but when I did it it was obvious. They had notches that put things in the correct position. I think the wiring diagram helped too. With the diag. you should be able to figure it out. (Famous last words). Page 367 of the hand book shows where everything is, and if you get it all apart you can do it.
Good luck and let me know if you need more help with it.
jack
