The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay 59 Apache reverse switch

Looking for some help with the reverse switch operation on my 59 Apache. It would appear that there should be a clip on lever on the steering column shift shat that depresses the reverse lamp switch? Can not seem to find any info on this. Thanks for any help

Are you interested in staying original, or would a work-around be acceptable? It's fairly simple to rig a bracket with a micro-switch mounted on it to operate the backup lights.

There's a huge selection of them on Ebay- - - -search "micro switch". I like to use the full-sized 15 amp switch with a roller on the actuator arm. Bracket it so the shift linkage moves the arm when it goes to the reverse position. A piece of steel flat stock held to the steering column with a radiator hose clamp or two works nicely!
Jerry

Doing my best to stay original as the original switch is present and working. There is no actuator present on the shaft though. haven't found much information it as of yet. I will try and take a better look at the assembly manual tonight. Thank you for the ideas, may have to heasd down that road if all else fails!

There was a dealer accessory for the back-up light switch. It was a universal fit for both column shift and floor shift. It came with the hardware to install it either way. A bracket is mounted that holds a spring-loaded push button switch. A lever is mounted on the shifter. When the shifter is put in reverse, the lever pushes in the button on the switch and connects the circuit to turn the lights on. When the shifter is taken out of reverse, lever moves and the button pops out to disconnect the circuit and turn off the light.

You can usually find the kits on eBay, but I don't see one currently listed. If you can see the kit, what I wrote above will make more sense.

They could be wired either through the ignition switch so that it would only work with the key turned on or to a non-ignition power source so that it could work without the key.

The kit did not come with a relay. It was wired direct. When I wired the back-up light switch on my '57, I ran an ignition wire to a relay and a separate fused non-ignition wire for power. That way, it only works with the key turned on but has a power source that does not run through the ignition switch.

Matt

LONGBOX55 quote:

"Only the switch itself is the same, the mounting bracket and lever are different. The switch bracket clamps to the steering column, and the lever clamps around the shifter rod, and is adjusted so it only closes the switch when reverse is selected, as it can catch it in 2nd if out of adjustment. I'll see if I can get a good picture of the one in mine. It's slightly altered from how it is supposed to mount, as the column clamp had a bad weld on it. I had to attach it a little different, but the operation principle is the same."

Sounds like you need the clamp on actuator. All of the pics LONGBOX55 posted, regarding this issue, on Webshots, are all gone.
This switch has a slot for an actuator piece. Looks like switch is a 1/2 rotary switch. LONGBOX seems to say switch is the same push button switch as the 4 speed. I have seen that switch. It is a momentary, push button, always open. That means the actuator is probably similar in looks. I.E. paddle arm or tab "stick out".
We don't know if the switch was working, and not now, or what? If it was, then the actuator has slipped or come loose on shift rod. If it was never there, that's odd to have a switch and never an actuator. So more info is needed.

Switch is present and working, it is a plunger style switch. The lever for the column that would depress it is missing. I've seen on mid seventies trucks where it is just a clip on style lever. Thanks for the help!

Hello Wrencher88'

I may have a copy of the dealer installed back-up
lamp installation sheet. Send me a reply and we'll
talk about it.

Respectfully, 59shortfleet

Thanks for offering some information! I believe I may just be missing some form of a lever off the column to activate the switch. Troy