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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 209 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 209 | Last night I noticed my light switch was real stiff, tonight I thought I was going to have to put my feet on the dash and use both hands to get it to the headlight position. Is there something I can use as a lube or do I bite the bullet and replace it? John | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Year?
Have you ever taken out the light switch?
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 209 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 209 | Sorry Tim, its a 51. I haven't taken it out yet. I posted this as soon as I got home so I didn't forget. The switch was stiff before, but I haven't needed the lights since last spring. John | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,971 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,971 | The switch can be taken apart, but can be tricky not to loose small pieces. I took apart a few and cleaned real good and used dielectric grease to put them back together. They seem to work real slick. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,001 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,001 | Wouldn't spraying some WD-40 (or the like) on and down the shaft be worth the effort before disassembling it?
~ Victor 1941 3/4-Ton Pickup (in process). Read about it in the DITY Gallery1955 Grumman Kurbside "Doughboy" 235/3 on tree w/ OD 1957 3100 - moved on 1959 C4500 Short Bus "Magic Bus" - moved on 1959 G3800 1 Ton Dually "Chief" - moved on 1958 C4400 Viking "Thor" ~ moved on to fellow Bolter | | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 | Yes, I've used WD-40 to clean and lube volume controls on old radios many times.
dg
Denny G
Sandwich, IL
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Three votes on the WD-40. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 209 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 209 | Thanks for the replies. I used WD-40 on on/off switches, I'm gonna give it a try. John | | | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 209 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 209 | Gave it the WD-40 treatment this morning, tonight when I got in to come home the switch actually worked! Still a little stiff, I think I'll give it a shot of contact cleaner and WD this weekend and see what happens. After reading about some of the replacement switches I'm not looking forward to replacing it. John | | | | | Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 219 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 219 | Another vote to take it apart and clean it. That switch will last 50 more years with a good cleaning and some fresh dielectric grease. Glad you're not pitching it for a new repop! | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | dielectric grease is non-conductive
it might be OK
I use contact cleaner (non-silicone and non-dielectric) and maybe WD-40 (non-silicone version - they now sell a silicone spray, which might cause future contamination when painting). | | |
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