The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline brake light

Sorry to ask such a dumb question but here goes.
..Sometimes when I park Lucy(52 1/2 ton)the brake light will come on . I installed a new brake light switch. Even put a piece of rubber hose over the switch arm. Today I shimmed the switch hoping to get the darn thing to turn off. The brake lights work fine when I am driving and apply the brakes. After parking the brake light will stay off for a few minutes and then turn on. I would welcome any ideas.

Is the pedal falling, allowing the switch to come on? If its like my '55 anyways...

no dumb questions here, just solutions to frustrations prolly your pedal return spring is weak - get things back to factory specs, skip the rubber hose

Bill

Thanks for the replies. I never thought of a weak return spring. I am going to look into it. With all the talk about how the world is going to h... in a handbasket this site is an example of the basic goodness in people.... People helping people.

I've had that a few times and it was always the switch needing adjustment.
Lothar

My brake return spring won't even come close to bringing the pedal back up far enough to turn off the brake lights so I have to remember to hook my toe under the pedal and pull it up every time I use the brakes. I have thought about putting a bicycle type 'rattrap' on the pedal. The PO had a screen door closing spring stretched up to the steering column from the pedal arm and I haven't taken it out yet. But even it won't pull the pedal back up.

You could try and spray some lubricator on the shaft where it atatches to the frame. It has a greese fitting but believe the greese has goten old and sticky causing the peddle not to return to the proper place.

I was thinking about trying that, but haven't figured out how to get to it yet. It has been a long time since I looked, but it seems like there was some sort of bulkehead in there blocking my access to it. I'm no metalurgist and am wondering...do springs get weak over time? :confused:

Springs definitely get weak over time. Might try cutting a piece off one end to shorten the length or look for a new spring a bit shorter than what you're using.

As for the switch, does it have elongated holes for adjustment? If not you might try removing the switch and elongate them or elongate further.

Harder to do but you could put an inline switch in.

Rusty,
Had that exact same problem. I got a spring from the hardware store and hooked it in between the brake pedal and the frame. It may not be right (original speaking) but it works great.

The brake and clutch pedal have a sleave type bearing that they ride on. This bearing is probably needing to be replaced and or lubed with grease. This will also cause your pedals to drag on the cab floor.