Indicator Stalk Q

[Graham L]

Hi

Used 'Hank' to go to work today and the indicator stalk seems to play up, it doesn't hold the indicators on without you holding it (whilst trying to steer :? :? )

I Presume this is a known fault but is there an easy fix to this by taking the stalk to bits or does it require a new stalk :?:

Sorry for the run of questions(I'm sure there will be more) but before I take it all to bits I thought I'd ask

 

[kempy]

Mine does the same.

Feedback would be great as its a job i intend to sort out also.

 

[HotVWheels]

There are 2 small screws in the black housing of the indicator stalk that might need some tightening. Try it.

 

[angus]

As he says!! HotVWheels beat me to it - on mine, one of these screws had loosened and then got worn with movement - a slightly bigger screw held things tight again, and all worked fine...

 

[CJ70westy]

If you remove the stalk check the small springs and latches inside, these hold the indicator on when signaling. Do not oil as it may ruin the switch contacts below. And be careful with the stalk when moving it. Its quite delicate, there are a bunch of wires soldered to the bottom and they can be brittle. I found this out the hard way. :x Hopefully its just the two screws holding the stalk to the steering column as mentioned above.

 

[Araon]

As CJ says access to the rocker and springs may be required as this area fills up with all manner of crap... if you use a dielecric grease or WD 40 will do and mop up the excess, if your going this far try reflowing the solder on the contacts....

 

[Graham L]

Guys

Thanks for the advice, stupid question I know but can all this be done without taking the steering wheel off?

 

[angus]

As far as I remember Graham, yes - certainly the screws that hold the stalk in are accessible, and to get inside 'proper' I think you just unscrew the 2 halves of the surround casting that clamps around the steering column - I doubt you'll have to do that.

There ain't no stupid questions....(well, apart from that chap asking which side of the brake pads he should have put the copper-ease on.... )

 

[HotVWheels]

which side of the brake pads he should have put the copper-ease on....

OK? So? What was the answer? :shock:




























:twisted: :twisted:

 

[scamperbus]

Hey Graham, did you get this problem sorted?

I ask because I have exactly the same trouble. I took the unit off of the steering column to clean it up but it made no difference. That was about 8 months ago :shock:

I've been living with it since I first got my bus and turning left while trying to hold the stalk down is a pain.

I have a feeling this could be an MOT failure point if I don't fix but don't want to by a new indicator unnecesarily.

I'd be interested to hear how you got on??

 

[Graham L]

Hi

I took the indicator stalk off, checked everything was ok and was gave it a quick clean and reassembled it round the steering column.

To be honest its made no difference whatsover, its a lot tighter on the column than it was before but I still have to hold the indicators on most of the time.

Should there be some kind of protusion from the column that holds the indicators on and then cancels them?, as I get the feeling that if there should be this has worn away

 

[MMMC]

I'm in the same boat mate...my right one works as it should but the left I have to hold...had a VW mechanic look at it and he says its basically wear and tear.

 

[-tipi-]

I'm in the same boat mate...my right one works as it should but the left I have to hold...had a VW mechanic look at it and he says its basically wear and tear.

I agree, and my bus and a bus of friend of mine has the same problem.

 

[scamperbus]

With so many us having the same problem it makes you wonder if it's some sort of weakness in the design. Else, it's just that bus drivers have spent more time turning left than right over the last 40 years!!

I've seen the prices of replacement units and they're not cheap (or readily available).

My unit doesn't hold tight to the steering column by itself even when tightened down so I've had to use black electrical tape to hold it in place, maybe this isn't helping (although right turn works fine). Does anybody have an exploded diagram (1970 model), in case I'm missing something that hold it's firmly in place?

Also, does anybody know if this problem is an MOT fail? Mine's due in April so I need to start thinking about it...

 

[MMMC]

you will be fine on the MOT...mines just gone through with the same problem.

 

[Araon]

the mot will be fine as its the flash rate that is tested and the fact they do in fact flash....

Not quite sure but is it not like the bug where you have a small plastic rocker and spring affair that locks in place with the auto cancel on the steering wheel...

 

[scamperbus]

If anybody is still having this problem, here's a fix that has worked for me and may save you a lot of money as I was quoted £80 for a new switch!

After nearly 40 years of switching I figured the spring that hooks to the ends of the left and right mechanism may be a bit worn. The closest match I could find to that spring was a spring from the inside of an old vacuum advance type distributor I had lying around. It's a little bit wider but I put it on and it fits OK and it seemed to fix the problem. My left indicator now stays on like it should.

I still have another problem: when I indicate, the indicator dash light arrows only flash once (or very occassionally a few times) before stopping when I first operate the switch and the clicking noise goes very quiet. The indicator bulbs front & back work fine and carry on flashing. I'm worried this is an MOT fail point.

Also, and this might be related: how does the indicator switch housing fix to the steering column. I've clamped the 2 halves of the housing together around the column with the 2 screws and there's a sort of semi-circular metal plate that slots into the housing but the whole thing can be twisted round on the steering column. Plus I've noticed that if I slide it too far down, the horn goes off!! Must be some sort of short, but if it was fixed solid this couldn't happen.

Cheers!

 

[pk1was]

mine works fine on the left but is weak on the right but can make it hold if gentle.

going to have a go at fixing mine when its weekend