headlight switch bezel thread size?

[Los_Control]

Just curious if anyone knows the thread size on these switches.

My headlight  switch was frozen with rust,  I ended up disassemble and soak in muriatic acid.

This fixed the rust issue, but it literally ate the pot metal threads the bezel attaches to. Seriously, wife fixed me a sammich, I put the switch in the acid, went to eat my sammich and 15 min later came back to check and it was already to late.

 

I have a idea, use this SS bolt and nut, cut and grind it down to fit, drill out the center .... If I am lucky, it will work ok and just be a few hours time to create.

Would be a lot easier if I could get a bolt with the same threads as the bezel, and just use the original bezel instead of trying to re-create one.

Is always the option of just getting a new switch also.

 

I did take the bezel down to Ace hardware, I spent time trying to locate correct thread size, came close but not right, probably have to order online.

[Merle Coggins]

I have to wonder what the acid did to the contacts inside the switch, and inside the circuit breaker.

[Los_Control]

5 minutes ago, Merle Coggins said:

I have to wonder what the acid did to the contacts inside the switch, and inside the circuit breaker.

I had the switch completely disassembled, was only the case, the carriage and the push pull lever in the acid. 

You can not disassemble it any further though if it is rusted together.

I was not thinking the acid would eat the potmetal.

 

As it sits, is completely oiled and greased and functions fine, just no way to mount it.

I put it back together as to not lose the pieces 

Edited December 3, 2018 by Los_Control

[Dodgeb4ya]

It's a 7/16" X 28 threads per Inch

[Los_Control]

5 minutes ago, Dodgeb4ya said:

It's a 7/16" X 28 threads per Inch

Thank you very much, I will order a couple bolts up.

[ggdad1951]

what about the anti spinny aspect of the rod?  Drilling a hole will allow the rod to spin...just a reminder.

 

dropping you a PM.

[The Oil Soup]

Next time use oxalic acid ( wood bleach ) to get rid of the rust.

[Los_Control]

2 hours ago, The Oil Soup said:

Next time use oxalic acid ( wood bleach ) to get rid of the rust.

New to using acid for rust removal, been using it to remove the rust on my body pieces, lot of work but happy with results, I just happened to have some of the acid out and tried it on the switch. I already been working on soaking the switch in oil for 3 days with no results, was about ready to toss it.

2 hours ago, ggdad1951 said:

what about the anti spinny aspect of the rod?  Drilling a hole will allow the rod to spin...just a reminder.

 

dropping you a PM.

The rod is slotted on the end, it slides into the carriage and prevents rod from spinning.

The hole I  drill will be through the bolt for the rod to slide through.

 

1, I just need to grind the thickness of the bolt head down to washer size, then shape the diameter to fit in the case. 

 

 

2, The case hole is not round, is flat on 2 sides to prevent bolt from spinning, Grinding the diameter in step one will prevent bolt from spinning, so drill case to round hole.

3, cut the bolt to length, then drill center hole for rod.

This should not take to long if I start with the proper threaded bolt to accept the original bezel.

 

If I use the ss bolt in the photo, the thread pitch is wrong, will need to grind down the existing nut to make the new bezel, then polish if it actually works, then it still wont look the same as the rest and will take to much time.

 

ggdad1951 I like your idea better