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'53 turn signals won't cancel - rebuilds?
  • tippleunduly
    Posts: 34Greasemonkey
    I keep forgetting to manually cancel my '53 Hornet's turn signals, probably driving other drivers nuts! They will no longer self cancel. Are there new units available or does somebody rebuild them?
    Thanks for your help!
    Bill
  • hudnut52hudnut52
    Posts: 111Senior Contributor
    you most likely have broken canceling pins on your steering wheel. if you take your turn signal switch off you will see the pins there is two of them.
  • Jon BJon B
    Posts: 4,770Moderator
    Then too, you might just unbolt and remove the switch, open it up, and judiciously apply a bit of grease or oil where it might do the most good. I have a gut feeling these switches don't go back too often. But if there really is a broken part in there, you would probably do well to simply purchase a used switch (I see them all the time at Hudson flea markets and there should be some on Ebay as well). Probably a lot less costly than paying someone to rebuild.
  • walts garage-53
    Posts: 1,470Platinum Member
    Before you do any thing, remove the steering wheel to see if both pins are missing. You will see 2 holes in the wheel that the pins are pressed into. Hope they are still in the steering housing, if yes reglue them back into the holes. If pins are still in place, then the canceling pieces of the switch have broken springs, must be removed and repaired. Walt.
  • tippleunduly
    Posts: 34Greasemonkey
    Thanks for the tips. I'll pull the wheel and start from there. Thanks!
    Bill
  • Tallent RTallent R
    Posts: 1,576Platinum Member
    Most of the switchs just need a little light oil to get them clicking again. Or at worst as Walt said a spring as come off. Not to hard to find as stated at a swap meet ,I can sell you a used one if you need it . But check your pins first ,
    Roger
    Retired Tech.
  • hotrodman2010hotmailcomhotrodman2010hotmailcom
    Posts: 111Hitchhiker
    The are well build and designed and have that GOOD Hudson steel so as has been stated ,open er up and clean, adjust as needed. I would bet that is all it will need. I was very impressed with the quality of the design and parts. Not plastic like on other cars!!!
  • Jon BJon B
    Posts: 4,770Moderator
    I'm not sure you even have to pull the wheel to check if the pins are there. If you unbolt and remove the switch itself and look through the hole in the steering column jacket, then revolve the wheel, the pins ought to come into view....shouldn't they? If you see the pins, then you've already got the switch box off, and you can open it up, check for broken springs or parts, and do a little lube job. If the pins are missing, you didn't waste any effort since you'd still want to grease the moving parts in the switch.

    However, I do not own a StepDown, so I don't even know what these pins look like. The "cancelling pins" on my '37, consist of a hose clamp around the steering shaft, whose tightening screw hits the cancelling levers of the switch every time the wheel is turned!
  • SuperDaveSuperDave
    Posts: 2,377Platinum Member
    Common replacement roll pins can be used. They will . have to be ground down to the proper legnth. I have seen many early stepdowns that did not have the pins in the wheel, but the holes were there. Unfortunatly the wheel will have to be removed.