AzBob Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 (edited) Trying to remove the Delco combination switch on my 1926 Standard Coupe. It appears that the switch housing has expanded over the years and will not slide out of the hole in the dash. I have it about half way out and it is stuck pretty tight.Has anyone else encountered this problem and if you did, How did you end up removing the switch? Edited February 20, 2015 by AzBob (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26-25Buick Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 We've got the same problem Bob but we couldn't get ours to move at all. I didn't find an easy solution so just left it for the time being for fear of breaking the casting. So I'm interested to know if someone has an answer to this one too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hidden_hunter Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 Trying to remove the Delco combination switch on my 1926 Standard Coupe. It appears that the switch housing has expanded over the years and will not slide out of the hole in the dash. I have it about half way out and it is stuck pretty tight.Has anyone else encountered this problem and if you did, How did you end up removing the switch?you would have thought the timber wood have shrunk over the years that would have made it easier to remove - that whole piece seems pretty fragile so I'd be reluctant to use any sort of force on it and the correct round ones very very rarely seem to come up for sale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibarlaw Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 I had to use a strip of abrasive cloth and work over it like a polishing cloth when shinning shoes. Does any one remember shining shoes? I did get mine out in mostly one piece. I used the repro from "BOB's" as a replacement which is a bit smaller. They probably just made a mold from an original without building it up to allow for shrinkage. All rebuilt with new switches it works great. I believe I have some old posts describing what I had done. Or can repost my photos. Larry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzBob Posted February 20, 2015 Author Share Posted February 20, 2015 Combination switch removed in one piece!As per Larry's suggestion, used 60 grit sandpaper and a ton of Elbow Grease. Took over 1.5 hours of sanding and gingerly working the switch and noting the marks on the housing all this while working upside down in not the most comfortable position. The expansion was found to be mostly in the horizontal plane as can be seen in the photos.The switch had to come out for rebuilding and rewiring.Larry, I found your previous post on the combination switch with photo's. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibarlaw Posted February 20, 2015 Share Posted February 20, 2015 Bob: The contact problem was a bit touchy as it was burned on the ignition side. So I had to make new contact pins. I filled in the burned micarta spots with super glue. The new switch levers from "BOB's" fit very sloppy in the bores and I made some bushings for a smoother fit /operation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
critterpainter Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 The issue is that the Die-Cast contains lead which corrodes and swells over time. I have seen these switches swell until they lock the levers so tight that they won't move and break the steel ring that retains some of them into position. Bobs can rebuild them as long as you have the internal springs and contacts and a "useable" back contact plate like Larry's above or better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leif Holmberg Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 If you have a small grinding-drilling maskin like this one I think you will have enough space behind the dash to use it.Leif in Sweden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzBob Posted February 21, 2015 Author Share Posted February 21, 2015 (edited) Larry, thanks for posting photos of the micarta contact plate. New contact pins nicely done! I'm thinking new levers from "BOB's" as well. Will be prepared to make bushings if necessary.Leif, thanks for the dremel suggestion, One could possibly use it in addition to manual sanding. As near as I can ascertain, removal of approximately 1/64" of material was necessary in order for the switch to pass through the 3.031" diameter hole in the dash. Thanks all for the suggestions and information that led to the successful removal of a stubborn 1926 Delco combination switch. Edited February 21, 2015 by AzBob (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzBob Posted February 22, 2015 Author Share Posted February 22, 2015 For those interested, I was able to take a precise measurement of the combination switch hole in the dash and the maximum diameter of the switch housing to enable sliding through the hole without binding. Hole in dash diameter = 3.031" (76.98mm)Maximum switch diameter = 3.025" (76.84mm) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Shaw Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 I have the remains of this switch if somebody can use it.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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