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Reverse Light Switch Ideas

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jhorton3

jhorton3

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OK, I pulled the reverse switch out of my gearbox last night. It looks very similar to the new brass brake switches. It's the same length, but the diameter is bigger. Threads are coarse. I put my tap and die gauge on it and it's a 13 SAE thread.

Is the ball at the end of the switch normally in or out when not in reverse? If it's in then it's just like the brake switches. I've got a couple of ideas floating around in my head about replacements. There's a company that makes those type of switches and I want to see if they have one with that thread count, or how much it would take to have one made up. If they have one I'd like to also see how much they'd charge to get lead wires soldered on.

Here's the other idea...if they can't make one up, could we use the current brake light switch and put some kind of threaded insert to fit in the original hole, then screw a brake light switch in?
 
If its like the one I pulled from my 1500, the switch is Normally open. Meaning that you have to depress the ball to engage the switch. I just had to drill and tap the trans tonight because the old ones head snapped off. I didnt have an other switch handy so I used the similar "N" saftey switch that I was no longer using and replaced the steel bracket with a thinner nylon washer to give it a bit of extra reach. Now it engages everytime.
 
I have a couple of switches, if you'd like me to check them out for you just let me know. I saw your post on your other transmission thread but didn't have a brake switch to compare threads. It seams you have that answer now.
 
If the switch stays normally open then that blows my idea of using a modified brake switch configuration. I'd hoped one might be able to use a threaded insert in the hole with a coarse thread on the outside, and fine thread on the inside. Bummer.

I soldered new pig tails on my switch last night. Getting power on one side, but not the other no matter if the ball is in or out. I might just try a toggle switch tonight as a test.

I've sent an email to the switch company to see if they have the size switch we need. Hopefully will hear back soon, and will pass along results here. It'd be great to find a source so this part can be taken off the NLA list.
 
Very interesting. I really thought these switches were no longer available. I looked in the VB catalog and they show the switch available for the 1500 transmission, but not for the 1275 rib case. Moss has it listed on the link you have for $34.95. I tried plugging the part # into my distributor's web page and nothing came up. Tried on another site and it did, with a slight discount.

If I can order one next week I'd do it!
 
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