I was just installing the directional switch on the column of the 48. The switch is a repro with correct cloth wires (and 4 way).
There are 5 output wires, LF,RF, LR, RR, BRAKE RETURN, and one input wire from the flasher.
If you unplug the 2 rear connections, does the flasher work (but faster) and the front lights blink?
When you plug in the rears does the flasher speed change? If not, the switch isn't seeing the rear bulbs.
If it slows down then it is seeing the load, but a bad ground is back feeding through the the other bulbs in the rear.
