nothis60

I’m in the process of a major overhaul in my car. Engine change, transmission change, and assorted little issues I’m finding. My newest issue is my turn signal mechanism. It’s junk. I’ve bought new, rebuilt or adjusted it probably 5 times in 10 years. It’s good for a bit, then won’t return to center and is really tough to move the lever. Are there any modern, better engineered mechanisms that will fit in the stock position?? I’ve checked out the threads I’ve found on here with no luck. I could be missing the one that will work for me, though. Help!

JF in MI

Your description is correct; they're junk. I had the same issue when I first got my '60 which had a replacement on it (don't think anything original is available). Since it was 7 years ago you're taxing my memory but IIRC the mechanism pivot, where the pin goes through, is a bit too long and needs to be custom trimmed down with a file so the pin doesn't bind when tightened. I seem to remember that being the issue, but again, it was a long time ago.

C.T.

I believe there should be a washer there to prevent the binding you mention.

JF in MI

I have to assume you are correct as I said it was a long time ago for me and I hardly remember much about it.

dryak

Check this out…don’t forget the washer mentioned in the video.

Leo Guggenbiller

CT is correct. I just had mine apart last winter. Pivot screw goes through the mechanism, the washer is adde and then the assembly goes into the cup and is screwed don. FWIW I believe the washer is the same size as the stepped portion of the screw. Any way I used speedo cable lube on the pivot points it worked well all summer. And I agree not the most well thought out design, maybe 53 …… chevies used them too. The cup is prone to getting oblong in shape due to the way the wedge tightens it up too. Good luck

Drive em safe
Leo

SDVette

That video is long.... but it has several nuggets!
I used it as a guide to rebuild mine 5 years ago and it's still working perfectly.

65GGvert

There are no modern, better designed replacements. You can only repair or replace the type you have. It's imperative that the brake light voltage has to be interrupted and then the flasher voltage must replace the power to that side because the brake and turn signal use the same wire, filament and ground. That makes it very difficult to design any type of bypass to flash your turns that would be handy to use. I've had to repair mine twice in 7 years and the washer is essential. I don't know if it's in this particular video, but one I watched years ago suggested buying small hollow tubing to place over the two pins that hit against the flat blade spring so that it puts more pressure on the switch for return to center, and I bought some brass or copper (don't remember) craft tubes at Hobby Lobby and cut pieces off them and slid them over the existing pins.

nothis60

Thank you for the advice!!

Bobalouie

I have used this setup in my '54 Chevy pickup for the last 30yrs and it works well. Same on my '61 Vette.
The key is to take it apart, clean it well, use the points in the video, I changed the screw in the wedge do-hickey
to an allen head screw. Made it so much easier to tighten it and get infinite adjustment. Plus, it never came
loose after that.