The Ford Barn

Jim M · 09-25-2014, 05:36 PM

I rewired my 1929 roadster and everything is fine except I can not get the light cap back together correctly. I must have tried 25 times and still no success. I can put the metal disk in and rotate it by hand and everything works fine. But I can not get the right combination of how the slots line up and can't find anything about it in the Les Andrews books. I have searched the forum and found wiring diagrams, etc. but no discussion on how to put the cap back together and line up the slots correctly. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Jim

ericr · 09-25-2014, 06:57 PM

are you talking about the light switch housing at the base of the steering column?

neds29 · 09-25-2014, 07:02 PM

Jim- I had the same problem. Is yours a reproduction? If so they are not very good. I finally bought an original and it worked better. I suggest taking it off of the steering wheel column and trying again. Years ago on my old '29 roadster it worked fine, but today...! Ned

Jim M · 09-25-2014, 07:37 PM

Yes - the switch at the base of the steering column. It is original. I have had it apart before and put it back on and and it worked fine. But tonight I quite before I took the BFH to it. Maybe in the morning it will go back together fine.

Jim M · 09-25-2014, 08:35 PM

Success! Amazing what a two hour break can do. While having a coffee I found a post in a Model T forum (don't think it was the Ford Barn) by Marshall V. Daut that explained the alignment. That helped a lot. Unfortunately I need to take it back apart in the morning to put some dielectric grease on the contacts. Oh well, practice makes perfect.

Marshall V. Daut · 09-25-2014, 08:38 PM

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Keep in mind that the slots must be in the 6:00 and 12:00 positions, correspondingly the spider "arms" must be in the same orientation. Then everything will fit together properly and the full range of lighting choices can be dialed in, left and right, as the switch is turned at the steering wheel. But the key to all this is the initial slot and arm orientation. Don't even bother trying to put things back together until this pre-alignment has been achieved. Anything other than this will result in disappointment, frustration and non-working lights. 'Sounds as if you are that point now. Keep at it, Jim. You'll get it, especially since you are working with an original switch.
Marshall

Marshall V. Daut · 09-25-2014, 08:39 PM

Wow! I was typing while you were posting the same information I was giving you. Cue the "Twilight Zone" music here!
Marshall

Willie Krash · 09-25-2014, 11:59 PM

If it was that much trouble I wouldn't take it apart again, it's a Ford. Something slippery will find its way in there. Do you really drive that much at night?
It the old digging a hole thing.

09-25-2014, 05:36 PM	#1
Jim M Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Sebastian, FL Posts: 483	Just spent 3 frustrating hours I rewired my 1929 roadster and everything is fine except I can not get the light cap back together correctly. I must have tried 25 times and still no success. I can put the metal disk in and rotate it by hand and everything works fine. But I can not get the right combination of how the slots line up and can't find anything about it in the Les Andrews books. I have searched the forum and found wiring diagrams, etc. but no discussion on how to put the cap back together and line up the slots correctly. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Jim

09-25-2014, 06:57 PM	#2
ericr Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 1,542	Re: Just spent 3 frustrating hours are you talking about the light switch housing at the base of the steering column?

09-25-2014, 07:02 PM	#3
neds29 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Ahwatukee, AZ Posts: 117	Re: Just spent 3 frustrating hours Jim- I had the same problem. Is yours a reproduction? If so they are not very good. I finally bought an original and it worked better. I suggest taking it off of the steering wheel column and trying again. Years ago on my old '29 roadster it worked fine, but today...! Ned __________________ Retired civil engineer. Winters in Phoenix, summers in Ipswich, Mass. and North Dakota. '29 closed cab pickup- Excellent AZ truck. '29 roadster- Owned for 21 years but now sold. '28 CC pickup- My first car in Andover, MA back in '62- '63.

09-25-2014, 07:37 PM	#4
Jim M Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Sebastian, FL Posts: 483	Re: Just spent 3 frustrating hours Yes - the switch at the base of the steering column. It is original. I have had it apart before and put it back on and and it worked fine. But tonight I quite before I took the BFH to it. Maybe in the morning it will go back together fine.

09-25-2014, 08:35 PM	#5
Jim M Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Sebastian, FL Posts: 483	Re: Just spent 3 frustrating hours Success! Amazing what a two hour break can do. While having a coffee I found a post in a Model T forum (don't think it was the Ford Barn) by Marshall V. Daut that explained the alignment. That helped a lot. Unfortunately I need to take it back apart in the morning to put some dielectric grease on the contacts. Oh well, practice makes perfect.

09-25-2014, 08:38 PM	#6
Marshall V. Daut Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Davenport, Iowa Posts: 2,630	Re: Just spent 3 frustrating hours Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Keep in mind that the slots must be in the 6:00 and 12:00 positions, correspondingly the spider "arms" must be in the same orientation. Then everything will fit together properly and the full range of lighting choices can be dialed in, left and right, as the switch is turned at the steering wheel. But the key to all this is the initial slot and arm orientation. Don't even bother trying to put things back together until this pre-alignment has been achieved. Anything other than this will result in disappointment, frustration and non-working lights. 'Sounds as if you are that point now. Keep at it, Jim. You'll get it, especially since you are working with an original switch. Marshall

09-25-2014, 08:39 PM	#7
Marshall V. Daut Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Davenport, Iowa Posts: 2,630	Re: Just spent 3 frustrating hours Wow! I was typing while you were posting the same information I was giving you. Cue the "Twilight Zone" music here! Marshall

09-25-2014, 11:59 PM	#8
Willie Krash Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Phoenix, Oregon Posts: 661	Re: Just spent 3 frustrating hours If it was that much trouble I wouldn't take it apart again, it's a Ford. Something slippery will find its way in there. Do you really drive that much at night? It the old digging a hole thing. __________________ Mike Stitt "A business that make nothing but money is a poor business." -Henry Ford