Customs Replacing the turn signal switch on a 1960 Edsel....

looking at the pics that you were sent do you see all the pieces shown in your switch? especially 13316.this should hold the arm in up or down position I believe.been a long time since replacing one.let us know the wire colours coming from switch if they match schematics it should help figuring out.I know this will sound stupid but is fuse still good?it could have blown when you cut old wires off.this time I am reading it right.I see Oldmics answered at same time damn one finger typing lol

 

My car doesn't have as many small parts as shown in the first diagram and the second one of the steering wheel is completely different from mine. Also, there is no plug for the wires to go into, it's just 6 loose wires. None of the green wires have any stripes-they are all solid as far as I can tell. The other three are orange, blue and white-again all solid. When you say "harness" are you talking about some kind of a plug? There aren't any under the dash but there are a couple on the firewall under the hood. I'm not sure which of the three green wires is the "t/s switch green wire" but I connected all 6 from the new switch to the 6 wires under the dash according to the order they were in on the old switch. If you would rather call me my name is Dave and my number is 502-767-7773. Thanks again....

 

can you take a pic of the back of the switch showing the wires?if you can I can probably walk you through the switch wires.as to the junction block it seems as if someone removed it at some time as you said the wires were soldered together I believe.this will take time but takes patience.you said you marked wires when you cut them so a pic of old switch will help also from back.

 

Old switch...

 

New switch...

 

While you still have the switch out and loose, you might want to identify which wire is which rather than trying to match new bright colors to old faded ones. Look here: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/turn-signal-wiring-how-to.869492/ to identify the wires out of the switch.

To identify the wires coming TO the switch is relatively easy. You have 6 wires; with the key off and the brake pedal NOT pressed, none should have power. Press the brake pedal, and one should now have 12 volts; that's brake light power. Release the brake and turn on the key; another wire should now have 12 volts, and this is your turn signal power. Identifying the four lights is easy; with power from a 12 volt source, jumper to each remaining wire one at a time and see which light comes on.

 

I found the wire for the turn signals and I already knew which one was for the brake lights. After that I clipped the test light to a hot fuse on the fuse box and touched it to the other 4 wires and the light in the test light lit up but none of the turn signals did either front or rear....

 

on your old switch looking from left to right green is brake the next green is left rear next green is left front the next is from flasher next is right front next is right rear.the colours on your new one looks the same but the blue does not look to be right.using your old switch as a guide match wires to new.blue is from flasher white is r.front orange is r.rear the greens are from brake switch then l.front l.rear.you said you marked old wires when you cut them so it should be easy to rewire.to check the wires to light use post 31 and 35 to test.if no luck put your old one back and if it works without right rear.I have an idea there is a possibility that when PO changed switch at one time he may have mixed r.front and r.rear if so you would probably not have realized as when brake on if daylight you would not realize front marker was on.and after dark the light from headlights would have masked it also unless someone was watching it when replacing switch wires.doing this would have allowed the signals to flash.first try to install new switch using the old to match to new wire location.just read your post on testing that will not work using test light.use method you did in post 35

 

I don't think the previous owner changed the switch. Also, I numbered the 6 wires on the old switch starting at the green end and the brake light wire is #3 from the end and the turn signal wire is #4. I did the same thing that I did in post #35 with the orange wire but the right brake light didn't light up this time. I'm pretty sure I didn't put all the parts back together like they're supposed to go which may be the cause of the problem. John (Oldmics) called me last night and has some good ideas and he may call back tonight. He said he has an old '57 Mercury steering column (which is the same as mine) and he would disassemble it to try to talk me through putting mine back together correctly. Thanks again....

 

hopefully it works out the reason I think it was changed or at least repaired at some time because of the wire being soldered.non the less hoping John can help good luck

 

OK, I'm making some good progress here. I spoke with John (Oldmics) this morning for about 40 minutes and we managed to get all 6 wires hooked up correctly so that I now have brake lights and turn signals. However I still had to put the pieces back together on the steering column. I have all of them in there but still have the extra gold (brass?) screw. Also, the turn signal lever won't stay up or down. I believe it has something to do with the piece in the photo with the two small springs but I don't know how to get them to attach to anything. Any helpful comments would be appreciated....

 

Is the switch in place, I can't tell by the pic. I think the turn signal handle may not stay in place if the switch is not there. The screw under the turn signal handle has to be tight on mine to work right.

 

Yes, the switch is in place and the turn signal lever is tightly attached. I had to remove the round piece for the horn (lower left) so the springs would be visible. Those two little springs have to have something to do with holding the lever up or down but I don't see any way to attach them to anything. My '60 Edsel factory shop manual doesn't help because the steering column is out of a '59 Mercury and the diagram that Oldmics posted earlier in this thread is different too. The turn signals will work if I hold the lever up or down and both brake lights finally work so this is the last piece of the puzzle....

 

Is the canceling piece in place I can't see it in the picture?


There is a Madness to my Methods

 

I also don't see part #s 13309 and 13316 and they are held on by a spring and circlip 13346 and 13347. Sorry, its been 3 years ago since I was in mine, but I think these parts were on top of 13304 and held the switch in one mode or the other by catching in the spring loaded hooks you asked about. They are cancelled by 13318 when you turn the wheel.

 

I dont see it either part #13318

 

What does the canceling piece look like? I have a small spring left over but no clip. I also have an extra small gold colored screw left over. Is there a site where I can put in these part numbers to see what they look like? Thanks....

 

Take a pic of the spring and screw if you can. Look at the diagrams on post #87 and 88. Even if yours is not just like them, it should be similar.
The cancelling ring looks like cylinder with a slot cut out of it like a C.

 

Here are the spring and screw along with a penny so you can get an idea of how big they are. There was also an extremely thin washer about the size of a dime that I managed to drop on the garage floor and can't find....

 

I could be wrong, but I think that is the spring 13346 in the illustration. There was a little cap on top of the spring and a circlip that held it in place. Could the washer you think you lost be one of these? It was a real pain to get back in place on mine. Can you get some more pics of the assembled piece with a bright light on it and I will try to help you figure out what you have.

 

That little spring was too small to fit all the way on that turn signal piece. I found the washer. That's it above the penny. Are these pics what you are looking for?

 

One more...

 

I'm going to have to study the pics and do a little internet search. Either yours is different or you are missing 13309, 13346, 13347 and 13318. On mine, the plate 13304 that works the switch floats on that spring 13346, cup and washer on the right side of the plate. There should be a little cup and circlip that holds it in place. I think your missing some other parts listed above. The spring washer in your pic goes under the shaft (the shaft that the turn signal lever screws to) on the floating plate 13304 on the left where it sticks through the housing. I think.
Sorry, I'm not much help, like I said, either your missing parts or is a good bit different than the mine and the illustrations.

 

Did you see where I was told earlier in this thread by Oldmics that my steering column is the same as the 1959 Mercury with the three on the tree? Apparently they had a few left over so they used them on '60 Edsels with the three on the tree which mine has. That's why it's different from yours. I saw on one of the diagrams that I'm supposed to have a C clip which I don't so do you know who sells them? Also, where is that little spring supposed to go? Thanks...

 

I think the plate floats on the spring washer on the shaft on the left. On the right, the spring goes on the switch shaft which is plastic. It goes above the plate with a cup and clip that holds it there. That plate floats this way. The switch has an indention on the right. The indention on the plate rides in it. This is what holds the turn signal lever right left or center. The little spring, cup and clip hold pressure on the plate against the indention on the switch. The plate is normally in the center indention. So when you move the lever down (left turn), the plate goes to the top of the switch and when you move it up, it goes to the bottom.
It still has parts that it uses to cancel but they are either different or missing in your pic.

 

Yes, mine is an automatic. I have a spare, but it is an auto also. I wish I could help you more. I know its frustrating.
If you have the switch in hand, there should be a little slot or indention on the plastic shaft that holds the circlip. If so, take it to some parts houses and see if they have one that fits the slot. I've seen carburetor kits with them included also. You might go to an old school parts house instead of the box stores. If there is a junk yard in town with a Merc or Ford with 3 on the tree, might be worth it to buy the whole column. That way you get a spare for all of it. Then take pics as you take it apart so you can go back like it should be.

 

The plastic shaft does have a little indentation in it for a C clip. I don't know of any old school parts houses around here or junkyards with cars older than the '80s in them unfortunately. You don't think Lowe's would sell them? Where does that thin washer go that's in the pic above the penny and where can I get the #13318 part? Thanks for the help....

 

There's a '62 Mercury steering column on Ebay. Would that have the parts that I need?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1962-Mercur...ash=item2a290bc08f:g:mBMAAOxyhPxRFWZE&vxp=mtr

 

look on the bottom side of your steering wheel as part 13318 may be already on it.on early ford wheels it was part of the wheel. yours may not have it on wheel.as to brass screw I do not think it being brass has any meaning I think it replaced a screw at some point with that thread.

 

I don't know about the 62 ebay Merc. Lowes may have it. Tractor supply might have it. Do you have the cancelling ring and the little cup the spring sits in?