e28 headlight switch

G

Gravelroad

Member
Does anybody know of anyone supplying replacement headlight switches either new or rebuilt for e28s? Replacement internal parts maybe?? Having trouble finding anything. Mine is really toasted and I would think many others out there are too. Even a good used one might be ok but they are probably like hens teeth. They seem to be quite different from later style. Thanks in advance for all who respond. I will be away for about ten days so cannot monitor thread for a while.
 
Gravelroad, you are right if you are talking about the open bail light switch. The trouble with them is that water can get into them and then the masonite material, that holds the contacts, becomes warped and then the switch doesn't work properly This, I believe, is why so many were replaced early in the vehicle' life. Therefore there are not many around. nce the "on-off-dim" switch is used with the open bail there aren't many of them around either

For a while a guy was making a replacement for the "masonite" out of plastic.
That would be a great part for A&L to make and stock. However the market would be very small.

Send me a private message when you get back.

Dean
 
I think he is talking about the 2nd type two position switch.. He can contact me if interested... I have several, One restored with NOS contact plate..
 
Flutedswitch.jpg


Here is a picture of the second style that Fred just mentioned. This is the correct switch for all the fluted headlights, except the very early 28's, which had a very different looking switch. I don't have a picture of the first style switch.
 
Hi all, Got access to daughters computer in Del. My headlight switch is similar to the one you pictured Tom yet it is somewhat different. My wire cover is not held on by a bail rather it has 3 dimples that index into 3 reciever grooves and turn slightly to lock into place. Also, the large wire hole on the cover is dead center, not ofset. Don't beleive there to be a smaller drain hole in mine. I will get some good pictures of the parts and post them on this thread after I get back home on 30th. I have an original August 1928 model t book with the last chapter telling about the brand new model a Fords. Lots of drawings and diagrams. It has the same light switch pictured as mine. Maybe mine is the ve28. Thanks everyone for your help, Jerry

PS Fred, I would be interested in one of your switches if it is the same as mine. Where can you get internal parts? The pictures I post will help you guys get me straight as to whether it is ideed early or not. J
 
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If your switch has no bail and looks like the photo posted by Ford Garage, handle it with care; they are almost impossible to find and no one makes any parts for them.
Do you also have the horn and light switch rod ? If so, it should be stamped On-Off- Dim and have a arrow pointing in each direction; this rod is held into the switch with a special clamp on the top of the switch.

The reason I said handle it with care, I may clean up just fine or need minor repair to operate properly.

The original type wiring harness for this switch has plug in connectors; Vintage Ford in Sacramento is making new wiring harnesses, both headlight-horn and tail light, with the correct color coded wire, and the price is reasonable.
Note: Vintage Ford used my original harnesses to set up. I have installed them in two very early 28 with no problems.

Ron
 
It sounds more like the switch Vince pictured. If the cover has the wire hole DEAD CENTER, then no bail wire could hold it to the steering column. The switch I pictured has 2 rather than 3 dimples to hold the cover to the switch. I don't know how many dimples are on the earliest, but 3 sound more logical than 2 for it.
 
Here is a photo of an open bail light switch.
P9300009.jpg

Just as Ron said, this type of light switch needs a longer light switch rod. On the top of the light switch rod are the wordsd "on off dim" with an arrow on both ends. These were made out of steel and sometimes are found looking like this.
31_3.jpg


Once restored they can look like this.
On-Off-Dim2.jpg


Yes, both items: the open bail switch and the "on-off-dim" are difficult to find and command a good price. Hopefully photos like these will help us find more of them. Some folks don't even start an early '28 restoration until they have both.

If anyone has either contact me. I will put you in contact with someone who needs one.

Dean
 
Dean, if you have time someday I would really like to see a good oic of how the early switch is secured to the early lower bushing assembly like the one on the left in my pic below. Thanks Rod

picture.php
 
Rowdy, I went through all my ve28 photos last night and I don't have one. Sorry. Perhaps Steve Ciccalone or Ron Rude, who are frequent contrtibutors might be able to send one in. They both have vehicles that have one on. The A495 chassis isn't far enough along.
Dean
 
Rowdy, I'm not sure if this is what you wanted to see. These switches are mounted on A189 and A566.
 

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i have a 3 position switch . off ... low .. high beam . why only 3 positions ? .. thank you .. steve
 
steve norcal said:
i have a 3 position switch . off ... low .. high beam . why only 3 positions ? .. thank you .. steve
Click to expand...

That's all the fluted headlights had in 1928 and early 1929. You should have a switch like I pictured, unless it's very early 28, then you'd have the very rare first style switch.
 
Just the pic's I was looking for. I was mainly trying to figure out what held the switch in place. I see it uses the bolts for the lower bushing assembly. Pic's I have seen in the past did not show this clearly or I somehow missed that detail. Thanks Rod
 
Dean, The switch you have pictured is the same style as mine on the outside at least but don't think mine has the knurl on the cover. Same clamping mechanism to attach to the switch rod. Does not have any indexing means, just get switch rod and switch in right position and tighten clamp. I didn't notice the on off dim on my switch handle, will check when I get home. Some of the internal parts in the pics posted by Fordgarage look very similar to mine but will they be adaptable in repairing mine.
 
That's all the fluted headlights had in 1928 and early 1929. You should have a switch like I pictured, unless it's very early 28, then you'd have the very rare first style switch.
tom , my switch has a bail . it was a standard '30 coupe with out cowl lites . does this sound correct ?
 
steve norcal said:
That's all the fluted headlights had in 1928 and early 1929. You should have a switch like I pictured, unless it's very early 28, then you'd have the very rare first style switch.
tom , my switch has a bail . it was a standard '30 coupe with out cowl lites . does this sound correct ?
Click to expand...

Your switch should have a round brass contact ring with 3 dimples. The contact plate should have 9 brass contacts equally spaced in groups of 3 with a blank dimple between each group.

You have the most common and easiest to find switch. The cover on the 1930-1 switch is a bit deeper than the 1928-9 cover, so be sure you have the right cover and matching (longer) bail. All the parts for this switch are reproduced also, if you can't find good original parts, which as I said are easy to find.
 
Discussions like this are when I miss Jim Mason's site the most. I beleive he had all 3 style switches showing several details of each. Rod
 
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