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  •  » having a small eletrical problem

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    4/13/2020 6:12 PM  #1

    Cab4word67
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

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    From: Portland, Ore
    Registered: 4/06/2019
    Posts: 1,154

    having a small eletrical problem

    Hello everyone,
    My new cruise control installed in my 65 coupe with a conversion from manual brakes to power disc works well. The cruise is from Rostra and works well, but I have a problem with the brake light switch (still manual switch, with a .10 shim. I had to add the shim to get lights, I just kept filing it down tell they went out) not disengaging soon enough. My brake light switch comes on with 1" of brake pedal and  the disc start working at about 3/4", by the time you hit 2" you have come to a full stop. When I come off the freeway and start to slow down I start to use the brakes, but the cruise will stay on and start to fight me until I really hit the brakes or pass the 1" mark where the lights come on. So here is what I have done.
    I checked the switch and I know it is working, I replaced the switch with the power brake switch everyone says to buy from MS, and that was way worse. I had to hit the brakes hard (about 2" of pedal) to get lights and to shut off the cruise. So I got to thinking with so much time at home and this is what I came up with. It is a 10A micro switch added to the brake circuit in parallel with my stock switch and it comes on with about 1/2" of pedal movement. Just before the disc brakes start to grab.

    Last edited by Cab4word67 (4/13/2020 6:17 PM)

    Slammed Big Blue, ran over the varmints that messed with the Stang. Now all is good in the NW
     

    4/13/2020 6:25 PM  #2

    6sally6
    Hyper FYIFORD ADDICT

    Offline

    From: Surfside Beach,SC
    Registered: 4/02/2013
    Posts: 6,863

    Re: having a small eletrical problem

    Still gotta stand-on-your-head to get to the switch?!..I thought so. 
    I hate working on under dash stuff so much I have started removing the driver seat before doing any work.
    Quicker brake light will be appreciated by those PNW tail gators I bet!  J/K
    With the amount of traffic you folks have... drivers are pretty much civil to each other.(may explain why everybody wants to move there)?!
    6sal6

    Get busy Liv'in or get busy Die'n....Host of the 2020 Bash at the Beach/The only Bash that got cancelled  )8
     

    4/13/2020 6:57 PM  #3

    Bullet Bob
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

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    From: Montrose, Colorado
    Registered: 4/01/2013
    Posts: 4,888

    Re: having a small eletrical problem

    That's good thinking, Chris.  Great solution to the problem.

    BB1

    "you get what you pay for, good work isn't cheap, and there are NO free lunches...PERIOD!"
     

    4/13/2020 7:02 PM  #4

    Nos681
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    From: Atlantic Mine, Michigan
    Registered: 7/14/2016
    Posts: 3,337

    Re: having a small eletrical problem

    Nice solution Chris.

     

    4/13/2020 8:58 PM  #5

    MS
    Forum Originator

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    From: Canyon Lake, Texas
    Registered: 1/24/2013
    Posts: 12,279

    Re: having a small eletrical problem

    Cab4word67 wrote:

    Hello everyone,
    My new cruise control installed in my 65 coupe with a conversion from manual brakes to power disc works well. The cruise is from Rostra and works well, but I have a problem with the brake light switch (still manual switch, with a .10 shim. I had to add the shim to get lights, I just kept filing it down tell they went out) not disengaging soon enough. My brake light switch comes on with 1" of brake pedal and  the disc start working at about 3/4", by the time you hit 2" you have come to a full stop. When I come off the freeway and start to slow down I start to use the brakes, but the cruise will stay on and start to fight me until I really hit the brakes or pass the 1" mark where the lights come on. So here is what I have done.
    I checked the switch and I know it is working, I replaced the switch with the power brake switch everyone says to buy from MS, and that was way worse. I had to hit the brakes hard (about 2" of pedal) to get lights and to shut off the cruise. So I got to thinking with so much time at home and this is what I came up with. It is a 10A micro switch added to the brake circuit in parallel with my stock switch and it comes on with about 1/2" of pedal movement. Just before the disc brakes start to grab.

    Power brake switch usually improves the situation. Do you have all the correct plastic bushings in place with the new switch installed?

    Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
     

    4/13/2020 11:29 PM  #6

    Cab4word67
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

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    From: Portland, Ore
    Registered: 4/06/2019
    Posts: 1,154

    Re: having a small eletrical problem

    Thats what I thought. so I checked and double checked. I found that the new switch has a much harder spring then my old stock one. But as much as I don't like to change things like this I needed to have it work and the new switch just didn't do it so here I am making my own. I emailed MS just to let them know. If my cruise ever stays on again I will know my micro switch failed and I still have the stock in place as backup

    Slammed Big Blue, ran over the varmints that messed with the Stang. Now all is good in the NW
       •Thread Starter
     

    4/14/2020 4:55 AM  #7

    TKOPerformance
    Hyper FYIFORD ADDICT

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    From: Newark, DE
    Registered: 12/15/2014
    Posts: 7,511

    Re: having a small eletrical problem

    6sally6 wrote:

    Still gotta stand-on-your-head to get to the switch?!..I thought so.
    I hate working on under dash stuff so much I have started removing the driver seat before doing any work.
    Quicker brake light will be appreciated by those PNW tail gators I bet! J/K
    With the amount of traffic you folks have... drivers are pretty much civil to each other.(may explain why everybody wants to move there)?!
    6sal6

    Annoyed be squeaking clutch pedals I removed and rebuilt the clutch/brake assembly and clutch pedals in my WRX and FJ Cruiser respectively recently.  The WRX wasn't too bad.  The FJ was a nightmare.  The pedal return spring in particular.  Finally figured out that if I held it compressed with three zip ties I could get it in place and then just cut the zip ties.  $30 worth of parts, two hours of frustration.  BUT, I hear only the sounds of silence when I shift gears now.
     

     

    4/16/2020 9:35 PM  #8

    Cab4word67
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

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    From: Portland, Ore
    Registered: 4/06/2019
    Posts: 1,154

    Re: having a small eletrical problem

    I went out for a test drive before we leave in the morning for our virtual road trip to SC for the MS BASH. The new brake light/cruise control switch works perfectly. You just start to move the pedal and the cruise now shuts off before the brakes start to grab. Also make me feel good knowing my brake lights are coming on much sooner. 

    Slammed Big Blue, ran over the varmints that messed with the Stang. Now all is good in the NW
       •Thread Starter
     

    4/17/2020 5:37 AM  #9

    Nos681
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

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    From: Atlantic Mine, Michigan
    Registered: 7/14/2016
    Posts: 3,337

    Re: having a small eletrical problem

    Chris

    Gotta ask...is that a Nutsert?
    What size is it?
    Is bracket attached to steering column with hose clamp?
    Future reference for other projects.
    Nice work

    Last edited by Nos681 (4/17/2020 5:41 AM)

     

    4/18/2020 11:55 PM  #10

    Cab4word67
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

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    From: Portland, Ore
    Registered: 4/06/2019
    Posts: 1,154

    Re: having a small eletrical problem

    Nos you ask if it is a nutsert? No just a piece of aluminum with a 1" tab on the bracket and formed it around a 2" PVC pipe the the hose clamp only has to hold in place. I pop riveted the switch on. Works very well and the switch activates in about 3/8" of pedal travel. being that I left the stock switch on too there will never be a melt down. I will take it off tomorrow and get a pic for you. It really seems to work for me.

    Slammed Big Blue, ran over the varmints that messed with the Stang. Now all is good in the NW
       •Thread Starter
     

    4/19/2020 5:14 PM  #11

    Cab4word67
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

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    From: Portland, Ore
    Registered: 4/06/2019
    Posts: 1,154

    Re: having a small eletrical problem

     Nos681 here is the pick i promised you. Nothing fancy just functional. Very easy to adjust

    Last edited by Cab4word67 (4/19/2020 9:47 PM)

    Slammed Big Blue, ran over the varmints that messed with the Stang. Now all is good in the NW
       •Thread Starter
     

     

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