‘40 turn signals

[sid carey]

I recently installed a turn signal switch made by United Pacific on my 40 Ford convertible. It works the turn signal lights on all four corners of the car quite well. However, the indicator on the switch, which is green light located at the end of the lever, is very dimly lit. The car still has a 6 V system, positive ground. I replaced the bulb at the end of the lever, because it was a 12 V bulb. It now has a 6 V bulb in it. Any suggestions? Thanks, Sid Carey

[rockfla]

IF originally it was made for 12V and you have switched and is now 6V, the wires used for all of the switch are not "technically" large enough to handle the 6V current. Even though "originally" its a 12V switch, 6V is twice as many AMPS as 12V.....SO you are asking a small wire to handle "TWICE" the amount of amps!!!! WHEN in use, does the switch get hot?? You might want to add a larger gauge wire inside the switch to the socket!!!

[Flathead Fever]

Check to make sure the switch has a good ground. I don't know how its wired, if it has its own separate ground wire or if it clamps to the column and the column provides the ground. The paint could be preventing a good ground or if you insulated it to prevent it from scratching the paint. The turn signal bulbs would work fine because they each have their own grounds. If it is the housing not grounding a quick test would be to jump a wire from the turn signal switch housing to a good ground.

I found a diagram for it and it does look like the hose clamp is providing the ground for the green light.

[Veeder]

Would you consider an LED replacement? I have a stock 41 6 V positive ground and just recently replaced the bulbs in the dash. The draw next to nothing for current mAmps

[Veeder]

Here is a pic of the led bulb

[TJ]

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X2 on the ground. The body of the switch has to ground off the column. In the past I have added a wire to the body of the switch and grounded it to the back of the dash.

[fortyonerag]

Ditto above^^^ it's likely the ground. Test it by touching a ground wire to the switch body and operate the indicators. You may have some paint on the steering column interfering with the earth.

[Ken/Alabama]

And the kid behind you on their cell phone will never see that little turn signal light. I’ve got them on my 40 Convertible but still hang my arm out and they think I’m waiving at them. ��www.jalopyjournal.net♂️

[Steve in Denver]

I have that same type of Green light on the end of the stick, and mine is 12v and it too is dim and has its own ground wire.

[1931 flamingo]

A long time ago I read about the same problem on our Model A Site (F/Barn) and it was determined to be an incorrect or bad flasher even though the signals functioned correctly.
Paul in CT

[sid carey]

I was talking with a friend yesterday who remembered the wiring inside flasher units changed at some point. Possibly a very old flasher unit that still works will solve the problem. I ordered an LED bulb for the end of that lever a couple days ago. Possibly that will solve the problem before I find the flasher unit I’m looking for. I’ve also made sure the unit has a good ground. Thanks for all of your thoughts on this. The internet and this forum are great. When I was restoring my first antique car 50 years ago, we used snail mail, and frequently enclosed an SASE (self addressed stamped envelope) for a reply. Sid

[sid carey]

I had a surprise yesterday. When I started the car the green indicator light at the end Of the lever, lit up much brighter than ever before. When I had backed out of the garage I noticed the light was very faint again. Possibly that flasher unit is bad as Paul had predicted. Or maybe it’s a bad connection somewhere. I’ll check further when I get time in the next few days. Sid

[chris46]

I been thru this on 2 early v8s You can't use the 535 flasher. use a 229d
[on e bay] Was also a topic on a AACA forum

[TJ]

the last time I put signals on a '40 I used the KD7542 (NOS). It was a heavy duty 6 volt flasher and worked fine. Put in a 6 volt bulb for the indicator and ran an extra ground wire from the switch unit to the dash. The flasher even came with the mounting bracket.

[Cecil/WV]

I have that switch on my '50 Ford and it works good! All 6v.

[sid carey]

Veeder wins the prize. The LED bulb arrived yesterday, and it works. The green light is much brighter. The flasher is probably the wrong one, but I don’t have to deal with it right now. Thanks, Sid