Lighting switch

[kclark]

On my 1929 Dictator, the lighting switch isn't quite working correctly. Does anyone have a diagram that shows what light circuits are on what numbers on the switch to make sure everything is correct. Also, has anyone ever taken one apart to fix it. Or does anyone have one for sale?

[keninman]

I would think a volt ohm meter would go a long ways. Make sure you have power first then run through the positions. I would start with brights, dims off then parking. I think your's are marked on the steering wheel. If it is like every other switch in the car then it should be quite simple to tear down, clean and put back together but I would do this only as a last resort. 

[kclark]

I think my switch is fine but I think the alignment on the inside of it (the stops) are off for some reason as I am not getting a full rotation from park to bright lights. If someone can at least confirm to me the correct connection on the various numbers on the switch.

 

Example, I believe that #3 on my switch is the power coming in, #6 I believe is the cowl lights, etc.

 

If I can confirm this, then I know my lights are wired to the switch correctly.

[keninman]

I would like to help but from your pictures your switch is different than mine. 

 

[kclark]

I think I figured out the problem. I'll know in just a little bit. But if anyone wants to know what the inside of the lighting switch looks like, see attached photos. 

 

The second photo shows the "board" that gives you positive stops. Mine is broken in 2 spots and I have no idea what kind of material it is. So in the last photo, I made an identical one using so material that I had laying around and put it in my laser. It's plastic so it should work. If it does, I'll use it and hold on to the original. I'll continue to look for what should be the correct material to use. If I find some, I'll already have the template in the computer ready to laser it out. 

[kclark]

UPDATE

 

The new plastic part that was cut out with the laser works. I still haven't gotten all of the kinks out of the terminals at the switch but real close. The power coming in to the switch was on the wrong terminal from what I can tell. I had it on terminal #2 but seems to work on T#1. The cowl lights seem to be T#3 and Tail lights T#5. So that is 3 out of the 6 wires figured out. T#6 is either bright or dim lights. I'm thinking dim, but can't figure out what Terminal the bright lights should be. So I hooked up the dim and bright to T#6 so I definitely have headlights. so that leaves T#4 & 2 which are the middle 2 terminals and I have one wire left that I have never figured out what it goes to.

 

The only real problem that I have now is my horn doesn't work now. I soldered a new wire to the button on Friday and it was working then and yesterday but not today. So I am not sure if the #6 wire has anything to do with the horn or not but I am thinking not as I didn't have any wires hooked up earlier on Friday and it worked. Just something else to figure out in the end.

[29jester]

one my switch is #1 is power and wire to the stop light, #2 is low beam (or tilt); #3 is high beam, #4 cowl lights, #5 is tail lights, so one of those others should be hot all the time for the break light switch. The horn should be out the center hole with a bullet connection unless they hooked it up to a dead connection. Don't forget to put a little electric grease or vasoline on it for lubricant so it turns easier. I don't remember what I used. Maybe someone has a good suggestion. Lanny

[29jester]

[kclark]

10 minutes ago, 29jester said:

 

What you have said and along with the diagram, show 5 wires. I have 6 wires and 6 terminals.

[29jester]

The hearse is a commercial vehicle which I'm not that familiar with. One my switch there is a notch on the part that turns that should be in the down position to hit nothing. one turn to the left turns on the cowl lights and tail lights. One turn on to the right from center is low beam and one more to the right is high. Is two of the terminals hot all the time?

 

[29jester]

By your previous post on the steering wheel lever and light post #2 terminal is blank?

[kclark]

That would lead me to ask you if you are numbering your terminals as you see them or if you are using the numbers that are stamped into the side to the switch? The way that mine are numbered are: 1-6-4-2-3-5

 

What I believe I have worked out is:

1 = Power

6 = Headlight (not quite sure High or Low)

4 = not sure

2 = not sure

3 = Cowl/Park Lights

5 = Tail Light

[29jester]

 I was just going  right to left as you see them. 1 power  2headlight 3 so on, It looks like #4 was blank  on your earlier post. your headlights should be close together.

 

[29jester]

 I seem to remember there being numbers on the light switch of my first car but I can't get that information back and after 40 years it's hard to recall quickly.

[kclark]

I am now thinking that my #4 is either high or low beam. My switch is not differentiating between high and low. my terminal #6 shows hot but terminal #4 is not. But it 6 and 4 are for headlights, high and low, then I also think that my #2 is for my brake light. If I am reading the diagram you posted an done also posted by keninman, the power for the brake light also runs thru the switch for some reason. Is this correct. I am only thinking this as I did have 6 wires and six terminals and I have accounted for 5 wires (power to the switch, high beam, low beam, park lights, and tail light). And I had my brake light working but now it is not for some reason. I think if I start at the brake switch towards the back of the car and follow the power wire going in to the switch back towards the front of the car, i can see if I end up at the 6th wire that is in question if that makes sense.

[Spinneyhill]

Just "thinking" out loud... what is that switch? The 1928-9 GL, GB, GH, FA, FB all originally had a Delco-Remy 484-D lighting switch. All 1929 and 1930 models had a DR 486-E switch. All 1931 was a Clum 9115. Are there any identifying marks on your switch - it looks like a Clum to me but I haven't seen a DR so what I think doesn't count.

 

I wonder if the sixth switch might be something to do with the hearse body? Additional gadgets or lights inside?

 

Or has it been changed at some time so you will have a spare contact?

 

Update: I think you might have a Clum 9115. Here is p.1210 of the Standard Auto-Electrician's Manual, on Studebaker 1932, which had a Clum 9115 ...... with 6 terminals!

StdAutoElectriciansMan_1932Stude.pdf

 

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Edited November 7, 2017 by Spinneyhill (see edit history)

[kclark]

1 hour ago, Spinneyhill said:

Just "thinking" out loud... what is that switch? The 1928-9 GL, GB, GH, FA, FB all originally had a Delco-Remy 484-D lighting switch. All 1929 and 1930 models had a DR 486-E switch. All 1931 was a Clum 9115. Are there any identifying marks on your switch - it looks like a Clum to me but I haven't seen a DR so what I think doesn't count.

 

I wonder if the sixth switch might be something to do with the hearse body? Additional gadgets or lights inside?

 

Or has it been changed at some time so you will have a spare contact?

 

Update: I think you might have a Clum 9115. Here is p.1210 of the Standard Auto-Electrician's Manual, on Studebaker 1932, which had a Clum 9115 ...... with 6 terminals!

StdAutoElectriciansMan_1932Stude.pdf

 

[Item 0331 at http://restorecarsclassifieds.com/wiki/articles.php?n=247#content_top]

 

Thank you for the PDF image. That answers and confirms a few of my past questions.

 

Power coming into my switch is on #1 according to the illustration and that is what I have. 

 

Headlights on #6 & #4 but still not sure which is high and low.

 

#2 I believe might be blank as they show #2 with the horn but my horn goes straight thru.

 

#3 being cowl/park lights and that's what mine are.

 

#5 being the tail light and that is what I have as well.

 

Now my dim position on my switch doesn't seem to work very well so I basically have 2 options. Since dim lights are not very light of course, I could just wire up the park lights and have those on the switch in the proper position and have my bright lights on the correct position and just not have dims. The way that they are right now is I have my brights and cowl lights both on the bright position and the dims on the park position but of course this is easily changed. Now since I have been tinkering with the switch, I have no brake light so I haven't traced the wire yet (that's tomorrow's work) but I assume that the 6th unknown wire goes to the brake switch and it is wired to the #1 main power terminal but I am thinking that there was only one wire per terminal but I could definitely be wrong. Again I'll know that tomorrow.