1940 Pickup niggles

N

nathanmac

Member
OK so I think I'm really close to getting my pickup roadworthy. I have a few niggles though that need a more experienced head than mine.

Firstly is there a way to test a brake light switch? The brake lights will only light up when I clip a wire across both contacts. Can it gunk up sitting over time or is it just something that should be replaced?

Second I bought a new headlight knob to go into the headlight switch but it is too short. It appears to be a later, longer switch than a 40 unit. I've googled a little and found the 40 switch appears to be a small square shaped unit. I have one that looks almost identical but doesn't seen to have a 'park' setting and the shaft isn't removable. Perhaps it's for something entirely different though? What are aftermarket headlight switches like?

Third I took it for a drive around the block and when I got up to about 25mph it started making a whirring noise around the gearbox area. It sounded like dirt in a bearing and was intermittent but quite loud. I really really hope not to have to pull a gearbox, any suggestions?
 
Ta, public holiday here today so that's first job tomorrow.

I found the 'gearbox' noise to be the speedo or cable - disappeared when I disconnected it. Can anyone tell me if the cable is supposed to be routed up the firewall, way up over the wiper and then down into the back of the housing? It seems to give it a few ugly bends that way.

Anyone have any experience with repro headlight switches? Or should I just track down a good original one?
 
I don't know if the speedo cable is routed correctly in mine. It comes into the cab next to the steering column. Mine is LHD. I'm thinking an RHD would be more of a challenge if the speedo drive turtle is mounted on the torque tube the same way. That is cable to the left.

There is a universal headlight switch that has a parking light position. Speedway shows one. Take a look at #910-64051. You might be able to get one like it in NZ.
 
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I went to the Harley shop and bought a hydraulic switch there. They are a much lower pressure switch and will light the lights much earlier than a standard hydraulic switch.
 
bchrismer

Check your new Harley brake switch box for where it was made.
Some are made in China. Old ones were made in the USA.

Bruce

Works good
Lasts long time.
 
A niggle is something that causes annoyance or pain in a minor way.I.E a minor pain in the back is a niggle. In this case it refers to little minor things that need fixing. I guess it,s kiwi slang. It,s like you guys calling a bonnet a hood and a guard a fender.Cheers Tony.
 
kiwitony,

Thanks for the information. In the U.S. the manufactures list a hood as a hood and a fender is a fender, it is not U.S. slang.
I do enjoy your slang, I'll ask again if I can't figure it out.

Mark
 
cmbrucew said:
bchrismer

Check your new Harley brake switch box for where it was made.
Some are made in China. Old ones were made in the USA.

Bruce

Works good
Lasts long time.
Click to expand...

LOL. I tossed the box, over a year ago, when I put the switch in the '40 stake truck. I need to put one in my coupe. When I put discs on the front of my coupe, and converted to a dual master cylinder, I used a new switch that my brother-in-law ordered with the parts. Unfortunately, you have to be hard on the brakes for the lights to even come on.
 
Mark Slight said:
Could you please explain what a "niggle" is for us uneducated in the U.S.

Mark
Click to expand...

Hi Mark, I'm glad Tony was able to translate for me!

Working on old Fords in New Zealand provides a wide variety of experiences - you can have a ripper of a time in one or be severely niggled while busting your knuckles on them. Lately I've been both mildly and severely niggled, however these have all been mitigated by my ability to finally take it for a blat round the block.

Just don't mention bonnets and mudguards - aligning the front sheetmetal on a 40 pickup is at the severe end of the niggle spectrum.
 
Don't know where you are on the brake light issue, but I went to a mechanical switch on my '40 Tudor. As I recall, it was originally for a '50 Chevrolet, and is mounted to the floorboard behind the brake pedal. I've found it to be much more responsive than the previous hydraulic switch that would only work when the pedal was fully depressed.
 
Thanks, yes I've read a couple of old posts on here where guys have replaced with a floor mounted switch. I'm also thinking of trying a Harley Davidson switch - it seems they are a lower pressure type from comments on this forum.
 
cmbrucew said:
bchrismer

Check your new Harley brake switch box for where it was made.
Some are made in China. Old ones were made in the USA.

Bruce

Works good
Lasts long time.
Click to expand...

HD part number: 72023-51E
Made in USA

(just picked one up at a Harley shop, on the way through Kansas City. Price was 21.40, after tax)
 
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