Looking for help with the indicator stalk switch on my 1972 Devon. I know this is a late bay forum but I am sure that some of you have experience with this. The previous owner had an issue with the high beam aspect of it and the garage he used disconnected the wires and put in a push button switch on the dash for the headlights. The switch itself seems to be creating a circuit for the high beam when testing with a multimetre. One of the problems I have is that the indicator switch does not self cancel. I have to manually switch it off which is doing my head in. The metal piece on the steering wheel is there but the switch housing seems to be very loose and just moves up and down and around the steering column. Can anyone help explain to me how the indicator housing stays in position on the steering column. The plastic piece that moves in and out seems a little worn but I think it will still be okay? I also see that someone has welded a blob onto the removable metal half ring that sits in the switch housing.
Look on the other side of the steering column - there should be a slot in it. (I think somebody has managed to put the column in 180 degrees out as I am sure my column has the slot on the left hand side , never mind , the C shaped pieces are interchangeable) And there should be a small "pip" on the inside of one of the four C shaped bits of metal that clamp the column. This engages with the slot. Tidy up the messy weld, so it engages with the slot .. or find the bit with a pip on it and make the welded mess round again. Once you have the C shaped metal with pip engaging with the slot, then you can move the switch assembly up the column so that the curved piece of metal on the underside of the steering wheel engages with the plastic tag that sticks out when you engage the indicators. This is showing the curved bit of metal. Doing up the screws locks it in place without any bodging at that point . Then you have to put the steering wheel on so that the piece of metal on the underside is on the left hand side by the indicator switch plastic tag (spokes exactly horizontal) , and the wheels are straight ahead...
When pointing straight ahead, the slot in the piece on the wheel should be on the same side as the switch. If not the steering wheel itself is fitted 180 degs out. I assume when you operate the switch, the tab shoots out? It looks rather worn to me - is it still long enough?
Thanks for the replies. I am going to have to do this on Monday as I need to drive the van this weekend to get around. I don't quite understand the instructions of how the housing and switch sits but I don't think I looked at the right side of the steering column when the switch was off so hopefully there will be something there. Can you clarify what you mean when you say one of the four C shaped bits. I don't understand what these are and if they are missing on mine. In order for the switch housing to sit high enough up to the steering wheel it goes beyond the steering column tube up into the area where that large spring is. Then there seems nothing for the housing to clamp to. When the steering wheel is straight the piece of metal on the underside of it that engages with the switch is sitting on the right, so the opposite side of the switch. The white piece of plastic on the switch looks a little worn on the end but it does stick out when the indicator is up or down. It only seems to cancel the indicator when the white piece is pushed down, pushing it up (testing it out of the housing) doesn't cancel the indicator.
So, you steering wheel needs taking off and turning 180 degrees or it will only cancel when you do very sharp turns. Getting the wheel off is not fun on early buses, don't try and use a puller without a gadget to stop you cracking the plastic on the wheel. I poured boiling water on mine - what fun. On your early style there should be 2 horseshoe bits IIRC, both on the part you took off. If you look inside where that one fitted it should be obvious. As it's been sliding around so long it's likely the other side which is just ali with no horseshoes is worn and that weld was intended to tighten things up. The housing shouldn't be able to slide up and down though, maybe the dash fixings are worn or bent or loose? I think you'll have to give it all a good looking at and see what can be done. Having to heave on the steering wheel at low speed doesn't help.
