The Ford Barn

farmerdick · 04-05-2013, 05:27 PM

Hey Guys, I`ve got a good one for you!!! Rebuilt and refurbushed the entire brake system this winter TO THE LETTER using Les Andrews Vol 1 repair manual. The service brake rods and all four brakes are adjusted properly. Problem now, is the brake rod from the brake pedal doesn`t make contact with the brake switch plunger to turn off the brake lights. It worked before the overhaul but then again I hardly had any brakes and who knows how far off the service brake rods were. There is about a 3/16" gap between the plunger and the brake rod pad. If I adjust the brake peddle rod to make the plunger open the circuit the peddle isn`t even with the clutch peddle as their supposed to be. Whats going on?

Richard/Maine

BRENT in 10-uh-C · 04-05-2013, 06:05 PM

Need more info. Float-a-motors? Arms put back on the cross-shaft correctly? What is the length of the brake rods now?

Duffy1 · 04-05-2013, 07:35 PM

What year model switch do you have ?

partridgekelley · 04-05-2013, 11:27 PM

Take the rod off and add a little knob of weld to make it work. Just might be the lazy way! Gary

farmerdick · 04-06-2013, 05:21 AM

A year ago I rebuilt the entire front end including rear Float A Motor and had no problem with the switch not working. Not sure what the lengths of the rods are(are they measured from center of pin to center of pin?). The rods are straight as an arrow. The switch is an original 1930(July). Never took the arms off and the cross shaft can only go one way. I tagged the rods L or R when I took them off. All new rod pins. Thank you for any help on this situation.

Richard/Maine

Purdy Swoft · 04-06-2013, 08:58 AM

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The problem is trying to set the brake rods to a specified length, this is just bad info whoever gave it. You first set up the service brake cross shaft. the service buletins call for a gap of 1/16 inch between the plunger on the brake pedal rod and the inside of the center crossmember, where the plunger meets the brake light switch , with the brake pedal at the top of its travel. The brake rods are adjusted so that the clevis pins will just enter the brake levers. One guy claims that some of the pedal rods have the plunger spaced wrong, this is possible.There are gyp parts out there. I only use brake parts from Snyders with good results.

farmerdick · 04-06-2013, 03:47 PM

Purdy, I completely redid the adjustments on the rods and was able to get the brake peddle rod to get the brake light switch to operate properly. Thanks to you and the others that helped me resolve this situation.

Richard/Maine

Purdy Swoft · 04-06-2013, 04:34 PM

Thanks , Richard for the update. Glad it worked out!!

04-05-2013, 05:27 PM	#1
farmerdick Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Readfield, Maine Posts: 349	brake light switch Hey Guys, I`ve got a good one for you!!! Rebuilt and refurbushed the entire brake system this winter TO THE LETTER using Les Andrews Vol 1 repair manual. The service brake rods and all four brakes are adjusted properly. Problem now, is the brake rod from the brake pedal doesn`t make contact with the brake switch plunger to turn off the brake lights. It worked before the overhaul but then again I hardly had any brakes and who knows how far off the service brake rods were. There is about a 3/16" gap between the plunger and the brake rod pad. If I adjust the brake peddle rod to make the plunger open the circuit the peddle isn`t even with the clutch peddle as their supposed to be. Whats going on? Richard/Maine

04-05-2013, 06:05 PM	#2
BRENT in 10-uh-C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern Tennessee Posts: 11,972	Re: brake light switch Need more info. Float-a-motors? Arms put back on the cross-shaft correctly? What is the length of the brake rods now? __________________ . BRENT in 10-uh-C . www.model-a-ford.com ...(...Finally Updated!! ) .

04-05-2013, 07:35 PM	#3
Duffy1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Mo. City , Texas Posts: 725	Re: brake light switch What year model switch do you have ?

04-05-2013, 11:27 PM	#4
partridgekelley Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fort Bragg,Ca. Posts: 362	Re: brake light switch Take the rod off and add a little knob of weld to make it work. Just might be the lazy way! Gary

04-06-2013, 05:21 AM	#5
farmerdick Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Readfield, Maine Posts: 349	Re: brake light switch A year ago I rebuilt the entire front end including rear Float A Motor and had no problem with the switch not working. Not sure what the lengths of the rods are(are they measured from center of pin to center of pin?). The rods are straight as an arrow. The switch is an original 1930(July). Never took the arms off and the cross shaft can only go one way. I tagged the rods L or R when I took them off. All new rod pins. Thank you for any help on this situation. Richard/Maine

04-06-2013, 08:58 AM	#6
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: brake light switch Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The problem is trying to set the brake rods to a specified length, this is just bad info whoever gave it. You first set up the service brake cross shaft. the service buletins call for a gap of 1/16 inch between the plunger on the brake pedal rod and the inside of the center crossmember, where the plunger meets the brake light switch , with the brake pedal at the top of its travel. The brake rods are adjusted so that the clevis pins will just enter the brake levers. One guy claims that some of the pedal rods have the plunger spaced wrong, this is possible.There are gyp parts out there. I only use brake parts from Snyders with good results.

04-06-2013, 03:47 PM	#7
farmerdick Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Readfield, Maine Posts: 349	Re: brake light switch Purdy, I completely redid the adjustments on the rods and was able to get the brake peddle rod to get the brake light switch to operate properly. Thanks to you and the others that helped me resolve this situation. Richard/Maine

04-06-2013, 04:34 PM	#8
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: brake light switch Thanks , Richard for the update. Glad it worked out!!