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| | | | Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 251 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 251 | I found out about this the other day and I don't know if it does it all the time or not. I had moved the truck on to the lawn and applied the parking brake and then went about doing doing yard chores for the day. After a long day of raking, splitting and stacking wood, I happened to walk behind the truck to see the lights on. I released the parking brake and they turned off. Of course the battery was stone dead after that. I haven't had a chance to look into the problem but can't seem to think of any reason that might happen. Anybody have any clues or ideas?
1950 3600
1951 4400
Gazz
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,310 Renaissance Man | | Renaissance Man Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,310 | Are you sure that the brake pedal shaft didn't temporarily hang up on the toeboard?
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 251 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 251 | Can't say that I am sure it didn't but I don't think so. Why did the lights go off when the parking brake was released?
1950 3600
1951 4400
Gazz
| | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | Because the jolt of the parking brake being released caused the brake pedal to return. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 251 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 251 | If it is the brake pedal shaft sticking, the brake lights would remain on all the time which they do not. Granted, it could have been one odd instance but I don't think so. I should have some time to look at it this afternoon or tomorrow.
Last edited by Gazz; 04/22/2017 2:41 PM.
1950 3600
1951 4400
Gazz
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,445 Moderator - The Electrical Bay | | Moderator - The Electrical Bay Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,445 | Where is the brake light switch located?
Another quality post.
Real Trucks Rattle
HELP! The Paranoids are after me!
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,061 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,061 | Do you have a lever action brake light switch or a hydraulic one in the brake line?
1946 1-ton Panel
1952 1-ton Comml. W/Grain Body
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 251 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 251 | It is the lever/mechanical type switch. The pedal arm must have hung up a bit as I can't seem to repeat the problem.
1950 3600
1951 4400
Gazz
| | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | It could have been where you were parked caused the frame to flex at an odd angle which in turn caused the pedal shaft to bind on the floor panel. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 251 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 251 | When I got home this evening the brake lights remained on after I parked without the parking brake being on. I need a new brake pedal return spring it seems. I couldn't find one in the LMC catalog and may just try try putting a few extra bends in the one that is there. Maybe NAPA has one.
1950 3600
1951 4400
Gazz
| | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | A good hardware store will have a good selection of springs. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,310 Renaissance Man | | Renaissance Man Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,310 | Make sure that you don't have pedal shaft-to-toeboard contact (metal-to-metal).
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2015 Posts: 336 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2015 Posts: 336 | My 59 would do that on occasion due to weak return spring. I just had to remind me to put my toe under the brake pedal and pull it all the way up.
1959 3100 Apache Fleetside
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 251 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 251 | I tried the toe under the pedal but found that closing the door would allow the pedal to drop enough to light 'em up. I did manage to to get the spring off and shortened it by about 1/2" -5/8" by changing the bend location in the end. It helped but did not eliminate the problem. I'm thinking of making a turn buckle kind of thing so that I can adjust it until it works 100%.
1950 3600
1951 4400
Gazz
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