Light switch bail

[Lawson Cox]

To bring this thread up to date, the bail from Bill 38 arrived, and works just great, in fact it is really a tad long, but it works just fine.

 

[V8COOPMAN]

To bring this thread up to date, the bail from Bill 38 arrived, and works just great, in fact it is really a tad long, but it works just fine.

So, now you can drive at night, but what about if there's cows in the road and you need to blow the horn? DOES THE HORN WORK yet? DD

 

[Lawson Cox]

I'll soon find out. I am confident it will. I hope my confidence isn't misplaced like my brain has been while trying to figure all this out.

I REALLY THANK EVERONE FOR YOUR HELP.

 

[mrtexas]

You should be able to bend your bail to make it work.

 

[FlatheadTed]

Lawson has solved the bail problem now but here's a few shots of what I did ,I needed to tighten my steering wheel .This was a two hour job rather than a half hour ,not simple .I used a ratchet strap and in the end cut the spring about a 1/4 then it went on ,Used a mirror to see .Ted

 

[Lawson Cox]

Ain't these old Fords great for figuring out contraptions to fix them with LOL.

Good show Ted.

 

[38convsedan]

Argh!!!
I’m having the same issue with my 1938!

Can’t get that dol-garn thing to snap on….

I tried it in both snapping down from the top and up from the bottom…no luck!

 

[FlatheadTed]

IF its a repoped spring its likly far stronger than needed ,I would go to the hardware and buy a lighter one & cut it ,or ill see if I can put up a picture of a gadget i use ,

 

[TerryOH]

I think the photo below has been posted here previously.

 

[38convsedan]

Looks like I need C in the above photo.

Any leads on locating one?

 

[TerryOH]

There are two slightly different metal covers for the light switch body. The earlier style does NOT have depressions on the top, one on each side of the hole for the wires. The later style does have the depressions. Both of these covers have the same part number from Ford. The 48-3647 bail and the 78- bail need the cover with the depressions. The depressions hold the bail in place. Because the earlier style cap does not have depressions the effect is the cap is slightly taller and the later style bails have no place to lock into. The early cap uses the B-3647-B bail, as pictured above post #29, which is pre 1935. The 35-39 cap with the depressions is shown below left.

 

[38convsedan]

Thanks for the information.
I have the cover with depressions and 78 reproduction bail, which I can’t get to fit…

 

[38convsedan]

Fixed!!
I used a spare bail from a 35-36 and bent it to fit.
Had to grind down the ears a bit… but was able to shape it correctly.
It snaps in now and holds the switch tightly.

Thank you for your help!!!