Headlight switch

[36 Ply]

Cold weather has come to north central Illinois, and my detached garage is unheated, so I'll probably not tinker with the '36 headlight switch any more until Spring. Thanks everyone, for your suggestions; I'll put them to use next Spring.

Pat O'Connor

[JimCno]

That photograph has an interesting perspective... Am I right in guessing it is upside down, looking in the glove box door opening toward the driver's side with the glove box removed?

Ah-ha! I didn't even notice that. Yes, it is exactly as you said.

I believe I may have had to resorted to using channel lock on the bezel to get it off. I think I used a piece of soft leather to keep from making marks on the bezel.

[36 Ply]

Good idea John, I'll try that also.

Pat O'Connor

[John Hendricks]

spray some liquid wrench or something on the bezel every day.  It will come loose- it has been in place for 70 yrs

[36 Ply]

Thanks Jim Cno,

I think that I'll try your method next. The bezel has slots opposite each other, as suggested by John, but it won't budge (I tried 90 degree offset snap ring pliers and tapping a small screwdriver in one of the slots with a hammer; neither worked. The headlight knob IS threaded to the shaft. I may get a chance to try again tomorrow before relatives come for dinner.

Pat O'Connor

[TodFitch]

On my '35, there is a hole in the switch. You press a screwdriver or something similar into it to release the knob and shaft.

That photograph has an interesting perspective... Am I right in guessing it is upside down, looking in the glove box door opening toward the driver's side with the glove box removed?

[JimCno]

On my '35, there is a hole in the switch. You press a screwdriver or something similar into it to release the knob and shaft.

[36 Ply]

Thanks John, I'll check that out, probably tomorrow. The '36 is in a detached garage, and the lighting isnt the best, so I'll get a flashlight and check things closer. I'm not sure yet if the bezel and nut are one piece, or if they are two separate pieces.

Pat O'Connor

[John Hendricks]

I don't know specifically about the 36, but are there two holes adjacent to the switch stem, across from each other?  If so, a special two pronged tool fits in the two holes and turns like a wrench.  U can probably figure out a substitute.

[36 Ply]

Tod-

I think that your suggestion for removing the headlight switch is correct. The headlight knob IS threaded onto the end of the shaft.

The bezel is stuck to the dashboard (the switch was never removed since 1990, when I bought the car). I'm going to figure out some way to tap the bezel from the side (maybe a small piece of cloth wrapped around a screwdriver blade) to free it, so that I don't scratch it.

Thanks for your help.

Pat O'Connor

[36 Ply]

Thanks Tod, I'll try that.

Pat O'Connor

[TodFitch]

On my '33 PD, you pull out the knob and hold it with something to keep it from rotating. Then you unscrew the knob from the shaft. After that you can remove the bezel/nut which simply screws on and pull the switch out though the back. Maybe the '36 is similar.

[36 Ply]

Thanks SD Glenn,

The switch that you described is the kind I am familiar with. From looking at multiple views of a '36 switch (ebay photos) and standing on my head underneath my dashboard, I think that the '36 switch must come apart in a different manner, but I'll be danged if I can figure out how.

I think that the headlight switch on my mother's (former) '50 Chevy had the button that you described; it may have been common in the '40s and '50s ??

Pat O'Connor

[SD Glenn]

I know some of the later models had a "button"  on top of the switch to get the rod out of the switch, if that was the problem? Hold the button down, pull the knob out.... I hope thats what you are looking for.

SD Glenn

[36 Ply]

Anyone know how to remove a '36 Plymouth headlight switch?

Thanks,

Pat O'Connor