turn signal switch questions

[sub4rvr]

First off, this is not the original column. The old hazard switch is red, and looks like one piece. The new switch looks like it has a knob that would screw into it.
How do you get the old switch out? I got it all loosed up, then what. Do I have to pull out the pin holding in the turn signal switch? I tried it once, but didn't want to break anything.
Thanks, Dave.

[sub4rvr]

Anyone ??? TTT

[JimKshortstep4x4]

Can you let us know a little more about the column? Is is a tilt?, GM?, about what year it is?

Jim

[sub4rvr]

Sorry about that.
It's in my '72 Sub. Non tilt. truck was a 4 speed, but a PO changed it to an auto.
The turn signal switch in the column has a red hazard switch which looks to be one piece.
The new switch looks like a hazard knob is suppose to screw into it. The lights look like they maybe different too.
I got the switch and 'cup?' loose from the column, but couldn't get the switch out of the cup.

['68OrangeSunshine]

It's all part of the turn signal switch assembly. You have to pull the wheel then, the switch assy to get at the hazard button. They don't make the red button anymore. The replacement is a 2-piece unit that screws into the turn signal switch instead of the one-piece red button that snapped in. Used to be included with the turn signal switch package, but I see LMC lists them seperately now. Go figure?
To access the turn signal switch you have to Pull the wheel, then the cancelling cam, unscrew the turn signal lever, loosen a tin plate under the column to get to the rainbow wiring pigtail. Feed some slack up thru the lever housing hub and turn signal housing -- about 3 or 4" so you can work on it and ease out the signal switch after unscrewing it from its potmetal support unit.
If the red button isn't broken, you have to angle the switch unit --left-side first-- to get the red button out of the hole. Putting the black button back on is done after the (new)switch unit is all put back in.
I think the red button was stock on '67 + '68s, the black 2-piece button is probably '69 and later.
It's been a while since I R&R'd my turn signal switch and for some reason the illustration in the LMC catalog is inaccurate. Good luck and hope I haven't just confused you.

[Longhorn Man]

sunshine has the right idea there.
THe red button was stockn in all of these trucks..they didn't go to the black one (due to federal safety regs) untill 75 or so IIRC.
Another thing, since you are removing a broken unit, you can just break the red button off. it'll make things a whole lot easier.

[JimKshortstep4x4]

68OrangeSunshine,

I think your responce is a candidate for the FAQ section as this question comes up from time to time. Good job!

Jim

[70c10]

It's also a good idea to disconnect the battery first because you have to activate the hazards to gain clearance to tilt it up and out and it's a good time to replace the cancel cam if it's broken.

[sub4rvr]

Thanks for the replies.
Looks like I need to order a couple more parts.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by JimKshortstep4x4

68OrangeSunshine,

I think your responce is a candidate for the FAQ section as this question comes up from time to time. Good job!

Jim

Thanks, but I thought it was a bit garbled. [It was late and I was past my 3rd beer ] In fact, I forgot to tell him to rotate the cancelling cam up one to Right turn to get out one screw then down one to Left turn to get the other. Also I checked it out in Checker Auto today and they still carry the 5-sided turn signal cam in the "Help" section, p/n 49303. The bad news is it's now $11 bucks. But that's still cheaper than the whole TS Switch Assy at $29 bucks.
Hope this helps.

[JimKshortstep4x4]

68OrangeSunshine,

The essentials are in your description. I just think that information like this needs to be in the FAQ's. (To smooth out the "garble" as you put it, can take a lot of time).

Jim

[Martin64]

"since you are removing a broken unit, you can just break the red button off."

Or in the case of my truck, I turned the hazards on (for an accident on the freeway on my way to work last winter) and when I went to turn them off the button just disintegrated. I had to unplug the flasher unit I could get home to fix it

[Longhorn Man]

Matin...I've been there. ANd when I reached in whith needle nose pliers...I bumped something and sparks went flying and I jumped, fell off the seat and bashed my head on the A/C controlls. (not receced like the non A/C trucks)
My buddy was about to p!ss himself he was laughing so hard.

[Robert1970C20rstbukt]

I broke the red hazard knob on my truck trying to remove the pin that holds the shifter to the column. I had a punch on the bottom of the pin and was using too big of a hammer and missed the punch and hit the knob and it snapped in half. The thing that sucked was that it wasn't even cracked or faded, it even had the white paint on the letters that said FLASHER. Being the redneck I am, I superglued it back on and it hadn't come off in 2 months.