Today's Main Model A Wiring Harness
 

What does the Fordbarn family of Model A Fords think about the New Main Wiring Harness that are on the Market today? Just Curious!!

Re: Today's Main Model A Wiring Harness
 

I have heard that the "dimples" in the circular contact plate are not formed "deep" enough to capture the switch feelers, thus you turn the wheel and it seems to turn your headlights on and off.


Joe K

Re: Today's Main Model A Wiring Harness
 

Specifically which one (-which manufacturer) are you referring to?

Re: Today's Main Model A Wiring Harness
 

Makes no difference.

Re: Today's Main Model A Wiring Harness
 

Ok, ...maybe not -but some are definitely better quality than others. Since I don't use all of them, not sure I could say which is good and which aren't.

Re: Today's Main Model A Wiring Harness
 

The one I got from Bratton's (Bauer made) was stellar quality and a dream to work with.

Re: Today's Main Model A Wiring Harness
 

I purchased a main 2-bulb harness from Snyders last year, very hard to rotate switch on steering wheel, took apart and added silicone dielectric grease to the dimples. Works great now, have headlights, parking lights, and taillights/brake lights. switch on steering column doesn't move with steering wheel. Two thumbs up.

Re: Today's Main Model A Wiring Harness
 

The harnesses I have purchased from Sacramento Vintage Ford are awesome. Never had a problem with them, some have been in use over 15 years now.

Re: Today's Main Model A Wiring Harness
 

That's where I bought mine. I've had it over a year and will finally install it in the next couple weeks. I bought it because it had the correct headlight contacts.

Re: Today's Main Model A Wiring Harness
 

If I remember correctly, on some of the new wiring harnesses the bakelite is too thick and causes difficulty in turning the switch.

On Bratton's catalog there used to be a procedure to fix this problem. But it is no longer on their site.

Re: Today's Main Model A Wiring Harness
 

Mine was tight from Snyder’s as well, Jus like post 7 I used a little grease but also used a 5/16 ballmill by hand and dressed the dimples a little deeper. Been 3 years and 2k miles and works perfectly

Re: Today's Main Model A Wiring Harness
 

These slides may help fix the light switch issue.

Re: Today's Main Model A Wiring Harness
 

Bauer Electronics may be a main source for most Model A parts suppliers. Rhode Island Wire coats their insulation which may help it last longer. The woven cloth wire covering doesn't seem to stay color fast very long if it's exposed to too much humidity and especially sun light. The old original stuff used a resin under the outer covering that didn't last as well as the modern insulation so any of the newer stuff is more durable in that respect. The only problems I've noticed is that the modern stuff seems to have a larger cross sectional diameter than the original so getting the modern stuff to fit into multi wire conduits and the like can be a challenge on cars of the late 40s & early 50s. This isn't an issue on the older Fords like the model A