39 Mercury steering wheel light switch question

S

stearman464

Junior Member
Hello,
I just bought a restored 1939 Mercury. When I turn the steering wheel, the headlights sometimes switch on and off because the switch seems to be too tight and is dragging along with the steering wheel a bit. Is there a rebuild kit with some new bushings or spacers to rectify this? It’s definitely problematic at night. Thanks for the input… I’m totally new to Ford/Mercury.
 
I would first suspect, as you stated, dragging in the steering shaft. This could be from a bent horn rod or maybe build up of grease, etc. The switch is at the bottom of the steering sector and the rod controls the switch from the horn button/switch through the steering rod. It is a relatively close fit and if the horn rod is bent the dragging will move the light switch.
 
40cpe said:
I would first suspect, as you stated, dragging in the steering shaft. This could be from a bent horn rod or maybe build up of grease, etc. The switch is at the bottom of the steering sector and the rod controls the switch from the horn button/switch through the steering rod. It is a relatively close fit and if the horn rod is bent the dragging will move the light switch.
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"40cpe" is almost certainly right. We can't emphasize strongly-enough how careful one must be when taking that horn rod out of the column assembly...not an easy task to begin with. If that FRAGILE rod becomes bowed or bent to ANY DEGREE, you're experiencing what the result can be. And, it is ALMOST VIRTUALLY impossible to straighten one acceptably. And NO....they are not reproduced. DD
 
stearman464 said:
Good deal. Thank you for the guidance and input.
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stearman ....You MIGHT try clicking on the link BELOW. It is the website for "The Early Ford Store" in San Dimas, Ca. You will see, as you watch the images go by, that they deal in a LOT of used parts. Check-out the steering columns in one shot. Someone like these guys MAY just have a replacement. BEWARE, if you don't already realize it, that '39 Mercs have a wheelbase 4" longer than a like-year Ford, and the steering column is likely longer because of that. But it may be a place to start looking for a replacement. Click on the link BELOW! DD


https://www.earlyfordstore.com/
 
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