Topic: 36 steering lock components


Larry Lange    -- 08-28-2016 @ 2:09 PM
 
Back to this subject again.

Does anyone know where to get replacements for the special lock washers that held the toggle switch onto the deadbolt? The one I have came out in pieces. The part keeps the toggle from wobbling too much on the deadbolt. Any advice on a source for these would be very helpful.

ALSO: Has anyone ever seen any detailed drawings and/or parts lists for these very cool old column drop/steering locks? I've seen a number of the drops, which changed through the years, but I've never seen any literature that's specifically about them -- in contrast to the body of material about Columbia overdrives, transmissions and other components.

Any information about this would also be much appreciated, by myself and others.

Larry Lange
Puget Sound Regional Group











CharlieStephens    -- 08-28-2016 @ 2:23 PM
  I think Baxter's Ford Parts, (785) 842-9256, rebuilds these locks. You might try them.

Charlie Stephens


JM    -- 08-28-2016 @ 4:40 PM
  Don Rogers made a great detailed "exploded view" drawing of the '35-'36 column drop that shows all the pieces and parts . It also gives good instructions on how to take them apart and put them back together. If I can find my copies, I'll post them here. If Ford or anyone else ever officially published something like this, I have never seen it.

John


Don Rogers    -- 08-28-2016 @ 8:10 PM
  Larry, Here are some notes that I made a while ago that should help. I am also including an exploded view of an assembly drawn by Gary Tossel a while back.

This message was edited by Don Rogers on 8-28-16 @ 8:21 PM


Don Rogers    -- 08-28-2016 @ 8:11 PM
  page 2


Don Rogers    -- 08-28-2016 @ 8:11 PM
  Page 3


Don Rogers    -- 08-28-2016 @ 8:13 PM
  Here's Gary's exploded view


JM    -- 08-28-2016 @ 8:16 PM
  Looks like Don got to this before I did. Thank you Don!
However, I can not remove this reply and the picture added here.

John

This message was edited by JM on 8-28-16 @ 8:21 PM


40 Coupe    -- 08-29-2016 @ 9:53 AM
  In Gary's exploded view (above) are you looking for part #8? If so, you will have to make it since there does not seem to be any reproductions and I have not found a source of originals. There are no special washers that I am aware of. The ignition switch is held to the rear of the column drop with just two #8-32 countersink head screws (parts #4 in the details above).

This message was edited by 40 Coupe on 8-29-16 @ 9:55 AM


fenbach    -- 08-29-2016 @ 8:29 PM
  2 articles from the V8 times might be helpful

vol. 39 [2002], issue 5, pg 15-16: removing the steering lock ass'y

vol. 40 [2003], issue 1, pg 7-8: follow-up comments

sounds to me like someone put lock washers in place of the small flat spring [part no. 12]


flatheadfan    -- 08-30-2016 @ 6:02 AM
  For what it is worth, here us an article (CW), I wrote several years back for a regional V8 club newsletter. If interested I have some pictures. Email me if interested

Tom

1935 - 1936 Ignition Lock Restoration
Let me pass on some tips I have learned from restoring these things.
This also can be used for restoring other early Ford ignition
switches.

1. There appears to be two different types of locking assemblies
(different suppliers?). They look the same from the outside but the
inners are very different and not interchangeable but they do have
some similar characteristics regarding disassembly.

2. First remove the switch box and "inners" on the back of the gear
assembly. It is held on to the housing by two screws. Next remove
the lock tumbler. In some cases it is held in by a pin and in other
cases it is retained by a screw on the bottom. Remove the screw
holding the toggle lever tension ball and spring.. Note- if you are missing "inner parts" the following may be of some help:

The ball is easy 3/16" A BB or shotgun pellet can work. The spring 0.180 OD, 0.032 wire Dia., 0.300 Long, there are about 4.5 convolutions. Roy Nacewicz at one time sold these items plus the lock washer for under the head of the cap screw. As for the retainer, you need to be creative and make one. The size is a flat 0.050" thick steel, 1.200" wide and 1.429 long.(Thanks, Terry,OH Fordbarn)

3. Next you need to remove the end cap. However, the cap doesn't
like to come off. It is pressed on which means it has to be pulled
off. It is difficult to do without harming the cap. The best approach
I have found is to remove the "on-off" switch plate. This will allow
you to shift the entire locking shaft and cap to the right, enough
that you will have a small gap between the cap and the housing. Using
a small screw driver as a wedge you can work the cap off. If you
damage the cap a replacement one is available for about $20. I am not
a real fan of these replacement caps besides being kind of "pricey"
(MHO), they are made out of aluminum which is very soft and easily
damaged when installing or removing it. However, all is not lost.
Usually, with the use of a Dremmel tool you can go a long way in
removing pits and scars on the cap. When finished, I just buff and
polish. You would be surprised on the results you can have with a
little amount of work.

4. A couple of things that you can do to the cap that will make
installation much simpler. Thread the cap and the attaching shaft.
This will allow you to simply screw on the cap rather than press it
on. Another approach is to file down the "ribs" on the locking shaft
just enough that it will allow for thumb pressure to push on the end
cap. To keep the cap on the shaft I drill a small hole in the cap and
then thread the hole to accept a 10/32 set screw. When I install the
cap, I just rotate the set screw to the backside of the shaft and
everything looks original.. Either way this allows for easy assembly
and easy future removal of the cap, if needed.

5. There are two types of on-off toggle levers. One type requires
the removal of the "nail" that moves the ignition brush. The "nail"
can be removed in several ways. I often use a the claw end of a small
brass hammer. The second type does not have a removal nail. The
toggle switch and the shifting pin are an integrated casting. To
remove this lever requires the removal of a key which can be seen with
the end cap removed. Finally to remove the toggle switch you only
need to slide the locking rod toward the steering column opening in
the housing.

6. The on-off plate is held on by two rivets. The rivets don't like
to come off. Usually you end up shearing them off. To make life
simpler, I drill and tap the two holes for the use of a #4 screw.
This allows the use of a machine screw which looks very similar to an
original rivet except for the slot. You gotta be looking hard to spot
the difference.

7. Painting- '35-'36 Ford "standard models" are black. The '35
deluxe models are Metallic Taupe. The '36 deluxe are Benton Grey
(early models) and Rustic Brown (late models with woodgrain dash).

8. When you finally put things back together spend a few minutes
cleaning up the two brass contacts on the plastic plate that attaches
to the back of the switch assembly. I use some 280 grit wet and dry
paper to clean off the carbon residue. Too often these contacts are
over-looked and result in "mysterious" hard starting. scenarios.

9 Installation of the ignition on the column tube itself can be
tricky. Often the steering tube has been damaged with various dents
over the years and subsequently these dents were repaired with body
filler. This will work for appearance purposes but too often the
"repairs" leave slight rises in the surface that will be rapidly
discovered when you slide the yoke on. There are a couple of ways to
cope with this. First is to spread the yoke slightly to increase the
hole opening (NOTE- don't get carried away with the spreading. If
you spread the yoke too much you won't be able to get it to close
properly on the column tube) and then use wax paper under the yoke to
slide it into position. The second way is to do the tube painting in
two steps. Paint the top portion of the column the desired color and
leave the bottom portion in prime. Slide the yoke on, lock it into
place and then mast off the top part and refinish the bottom part.
Actually, there is a third way to avoid all the repair rises and that
is to make up a new column from a 1.5" tail pipe tube but that's
another story.


Hope this helps. As usual, I invite your comments.
Tom Mason
Holland, MI


Larry Lange    -- 08-30-2016 @ 1:28 PM
  40 coupe, I didn't realize there was such a thing as part #8. Like you, I wouldn't know where to get them. The piece I was asking about is part #12, the spring that keeps tension on the switch lever. I don't know any source of those, either. Maybe I'll have to figure out how to make one.

Again: anyone out there know a source for part # 12?

Larry Lange, PSRG


Larry Lange    -- 08-30-2016 @ 1:30 PM
  John, thanks very much for the exploded view. This is the first I've ever seen of any kind of diagram listing all the parts. Thanks to Gary for making it, too>

Larry Lange, PSRG




Larry Lange    -- 08-30-2016 @ 1:37 PM
  Don, thanks much for providing all the material on steering/ignition locks. I've never seen this kind of information gathered in one place before. Kudos to your effort putting it together.

Two parts I'm missing are #8, switch lever guide plate, and # 12, the tension spring for the switch lever. Are there any sources for those parts?

Larry Lange, PSRG


Don Rogers    -- 08-30-2016 @ 2:29 PM
  Larry, Drop me an email at convV8@aol.com. I might have an extra spring and spacer.

Regards,
Don Rogers


Larry Lange    -- 08-31-2016 @ 4:48 PM
  Thanks to one and all -- particularly Don Rogers -- for all the advice and information about column drops / steering locks. We've all been well schooled.

Larry Lange / Puget Sound Regional Group


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