The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay "Which Switch?"

Soon I will be installing the new wire harness & fuse box into the 51', and change to 12 volts. I planned to wait to replace the headlight switch untill then (the old wire is rusty & broke, so you can't dim or brighten your dash). Anyway, I have noticed that these switches can run from $20.00 to $60.00, whether they are repro, used, new, with fuse for acc. dome/glove box/tailights. One said as original, for 12 volts, with out acc. for glove box, etc., but using a fuse box, as I will be doing.
I know many of you have probably replaced these switches, is there one design I should install? Thanks!
Bryan

I'd try to find a NOS switch. I don't trust repops and don't like the universals.

Bryan, I've been working toward the restoration of the original light switches. So far it just doesn't seem to be a practical endeavor. I have heard bad reports about the quality of the $20 switches and the reasons seem apparent from the pictures that I've seen of them. The $50 switches appear to be exact replicas of the original switches and I haven't heard any bad reports about them. The only difference in the 6v & 12v version would be in the dimmer resistance element and probably in the calibration of the thermal cut out.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

I would comment that if the main problem is the dash dimmer control, I would bypass it. In my 51, I can't really see a time where I would want the dash lights on anything but full.

I just bought one of the $50 replica switches and although I have yet to actually put it to use I can tell you that it's a very well made unit and looks to be an exact copy of the original.

CATMAN, If you don't want your old switch anymore send Denny Graham a PM... he's collecting them for a project. That's where my old switch went.

Thanks everyone! I'll keep the old switch, truckernix your right, I'd probably never need anything less than bright, Ha, Ha,, especially with my sight!
Bryan