Cleaning ignition switch

T

tom/illinois

Senior Member
Removed the ignition switch to try and clean it on a '47. What's to clean nothing comes apart. I've seen it posted that a dirty switch can cause a weak spark. Should I just replace it with a new one? Can I spray it up with electric contact spray? Thanks.
 
Not positive on the 47, but all other early Fords the actual switch does come apart. It sort of looks like an aspirin box fastened onto the back side of the switch lever with machine screws. When you remove it, and take it apart, actually it will almost fall apart, you will find it consists of a brass "brush" and a contact plate. A lot of time the switch will not be making contact because of wear or corroded contacts. Often it can be cleaned up by laying a piece of fine sand paper on a smoothe surface, (glass) and rubbing the switch plate back and forth to clean up/smooth out the contact points.
 
Lawson your right it looks just like an aspirin box but nothing comes apart on it. It has a little slot where the switch lever sticks in. The pointy lever was dirty/greasy and I wiped it off and put it back together. I drove it about 200 miles today it did seem to start better but it was a nice cool day...temp. in the mid 60's. I usually have trouble starting when the engine is hot. No trouble at all today.
 
I have a '51 and couldn't figure out how to dissassemble it either. I just sprayed alot of WD40 in it and worked the switch back and forth. Worked fine for me.
 
tom/illinois said:
Lawson your right it looks just like an aspirin box but nothing comes apart on it. It has a little slot where the switch lever sticks in. The pointy lever was dirty/greasy and I wiped it off and put it back together. I drove it about 200 miles today it did seem to start better but it was a nice cool day...temp. in the mid 60's. I usually have trouble starting when the engine is hot. No trouble at all today.
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It DOES come apart. You may have to stick a little screw driver in between the two pieces to pop it open.
 
Re: Cleaning ignition switch GM

In the past, GM has stressed that a dirty switch can cause problems and I believe he described the technique for taking it apart and properly cleaning it,
Maybe he will chime in. John
 
also, one way of cleaning is to use the 'electronics' aerosol spray can. those spray cans have a 100 % lube-free solvent that cuts oil and grease very good. after it gets really clean, you need to put some oil in it for lubricant. these are ideal for cleaning rheostats and volume controls on radios.
 
The '47 type switch is held together at the mounting holes by a sort of hollow-center rivet arrangement. Just cut/drill/ream the rivets edging the holes and it is apart.
The mounting screws will hold it together when it goes back on. It's been a long time, but I think enough of the rim/rivet survived when mine came apart to pilot the holes even.
 
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