Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: poolenglish on May 24, 2015, 10:23:19 am

Title: U225 1992 cruise control lever broke
Post by: poolenglish on May 24, 2015, 10:23:19 am
My U225 1992 cruise control lever broke, the twist end to set it broke off. does anyone know where or what part is the replacement? thanks friends
Title: Re: U225 1992 cruise control lever broke
Post by: wolfe10 on May 24, 2015, 10:48:47 am
This information is a couple of years old and applied to a 1993 U240-- suspect the same components as your U225:

Replacing A Broken Turn Signal/Cruise Control Arm on Douglas Autotech Steering Column

Terms:
Turn signal arm: The electric part of the turn signal that contains controls for the cruise control.  Made of plastic, it is the piece that breaks.
Stalk:  The metal part that connects the turn signal arm to the switch in the steering column.
Switch in the steering column:  Fit by Douglas Autotech and will not be changed.

Foretravel originally removed the Douglas Autotech turn signal arm and stalk and fit one with the cruise control switches in it.  That switch is no longer available. Most replacement turn signal arms and stalks have a stalk that is a smaller diameter than the OE stalk, so the whole turn signal arm/stalk can not be replaced as a whole unit.  So either a turn signal arm with the Douglas Autotech stalk "pattern" must be used, OR the stalk must be removed from an aftermarket turn signal arm and the turn signal arm installed on the existing stalk.  A special tool is needed to extract the new turn signal arm from the stalk and insert it onto a Douglas Autotech stalk.  Keith Risch has designed and built such a tool, and rather than building a tool for one installation and/or taking a chance on breaking the new plastic turn signal arm, I strongly suggest you have Keith perform this function.  He can be contacted:

Then the new switch must be wired in:

COACH WIRING       OLD TURN SIGNAL WIRING       FUNCTION                 NEW

      Black                 Red                                Common/hot         Red
      Green          Green                        On/off            Brown
      Yellow          White                          Resume                 Yellow
      Red                  Blue                                  Set                    Green


NOTE:  The Ford replacement turn signal switch/arm from Foretravel fit perfectly! It did require reprogramming King Control Cruise for new turn signal/cruise switch. New stalk fit just fine: Same shaft diameter. Same size and location "cut" for detent that retains arm.Very close to same pin shape and exactly same location to locate shaft rotationally.

With cruise throttle travel at 1.5 all you have to do is reset as follows then do your 60 mph programming. 

To reset to the blinker control, open box.  Locate dip switches on circuit board

1.   Turn on dips number 3 and 5. 

2.   Turn on key and hold resume on blinker switch for 10 seconds. 

3.   Turn off number 5 dip switch and leave number 3 on. 

Then you have to recalibrate speed signal. 

1.   Bring vehicle up to 60

2.   Click on/off from off to on 10 or more times (I like to do 15)
 
3.   Hold resume for 2 seconds at 60.

4.    Turn off cruise then reset at desired speed. 

Steve
King Control
952 944-9644
Title: Re: U225 1992 cruise control lever broke
Post by: poolenglish on May 24, 2015, 11:12:33 am
thanks mr wolf;
 that sounds like a real pain in the ars.  I was hoping to just buy a aftermarket switch and just adapt the connectors after finding the wiring color codes. the lever switch for the cruise is momentary switches and one of them is an on and off. seems like it would be possible if not available to buy exact replacement.
Title: Re: U225 1992 cruise control lever broke
Post by: Jerry Whiteaker on May 24, 2015, 05:47:05 pm
The same thing happened to me a few years ago.  I repaired it with the epoxy putty you can find in most hardware or big box stores.  It doesn't look very good, but made the turn signal stalk useable again.  I have never been able to find a replacement, but I didn't look very much.  If you do that, try wrapping a piece of thin metal or plastic around the soft putty until it hardens to make it as smooth as possible.
Title: Re: U225 1992 cruise control lever broke
Post by: John Haygarth on May 24, 2015, 06:37:08 pm
As there is no photo so we do not know actually how it is brocken, can you not just use some of the "super glue"??
On another note my Zip Dee aluminum end cap on one of the window awnings got broken last week (the piece that the little shaft at end of drum fits into) and I put a dab of super glue on the pieces then clamped it back together. It fit perfectly and isimpossible to seperate, but, for safety sake I used Devcon putty and  put about an1/4" of Devcon all around it, let it set then drilled thru it for the pin. Stronger than the original now.
John H
Title: Re: U225 1992 cruise control lever broke
Post by: poolenglish on May 24, 2015, 06:56:14 pm
The knob at the end of the turn signal/cruise switch twists , or rotates. twist up to set-accelerate ,twist down to decelerate. I have it black taped back together so that it can twist. I cannot glue it because it has to rotate. I haven't tried to see it it works like that yet but probably will but not last and I will lose the small spring and copper that is in it.
Title: Re: U225 1992 cruise control lever broke
Post by: John Haygarth on May 24, 2015, 11:57:49 pm
Sorry, do not understand why you cannot glue it if you can tape it???
JohnH
Title: Re: U225 1992 cruise control lever broke
Post by: wa_desert_rat on May 25, 2015, 11:40:40 am
I am not sure where it's broken but if you're taping it I assume it's the stem portion where it is outside the "handle" portion (the part you hold on to in order to twist it). If it's the stem portion see if you can't find a way to "sleeve" the two parts of the stem. Maybe heat shrink would do it but if you could find an aluminum tube with the right inside diameter  for a snug fit and then insert it over one part and insert the other part into it... then glue (or set screw) the assembly.

Maybe an electrical butt-splice would do it...

Craig

Title: Re: U225 1992 cruise control lever broke
Post by: rbark on May 25, 2015, 07:16:44 pm
Craig, that's what I'm thinking also
Title: Re: U225 1992 cruise control lever broke
Post by: poolenglish on July 16, 2015, 02:30:22 pm
This information is a couple of years old and applied to a 1993 U240-- suspect the same components as your U225:

Replacing A Broken Turn Signal/Cruise Control Arm on Douglas Autotech Steering Column

Terms:
Turn signal arm: The electric part of the turn signal that contains controls for the cruise control.  Made of plastic, it is the piece that breaks.
Stalk:  The metal part that connects the turn signal arm to the switch in the steering column.
Switch in the steering column:  Fit by Douglas Autotech and will not be changed.

Foretravel originally removed the Douglas Autotech turn signal arm and stalk and fit one with the cruise control switches in it.  That switch is no longer available. Most replacement turn signal arms and stalks have a stalk that is a smaller diameter than the OE stalk, so the whole turn signal arm/stalk can not be replaced as a whole unit.  So either a turn signal arm with the Douglas Autotech stalk "pattern" must be used, OR the stalk must be removed from an aftermarket turn signal arm and the turn signal arm installed on the existing stalk.  A special tool is needed to extract the new turn signal arm from the stalk and insert it onto a Douglas Autotech stalk.  Keith Risch has designed and built such a tool, and rather than building a tool for one installation and/or taking a chance on breaking the new plastic turn signal arm, I strongly suggest you have Keith perform this function.  He can be contacted:

Then the new switch must be wired in:

COACH WIRING       OLD TURN SIGNAL WIRING       FUNCTION                 NEW

      Black                 Red                                Common/hot         Red
      Green          Green                        On/off            Brown
      Yellow          White                          Resume                 Yellow
      Red                  Blue                                  Set                    Green


NOTE:  The Ford replacement turn signal switch/arm from Foretravel fit perfectly! It did require reprogramming King Control Cruise for new turn signal/cruise switch. New stalk fit just fine: Same shaft diameter. Same size and location "cut" for detent that retains arm.Very close to same pin shape and exactly same location to locate shaft rotationally.

With cruise throttle travel at 1.5 all you have to do is reset as follows then do your 60 mph programming. 

To reset to the blinker control, open box.  Locate dip switches on circuit board

1.   Turn on dips number 3 and 5. 

2.   Turn on key and hold resume on blinker switch for 10 seconds. 

3.   Turn off number 5 dip switch and leave number 3 on. 

Then you have to recalibrate speed signal. 

1.   Bring vehicle up to 60

2.   Click on/off from off to on 10 or more times (I like to do 15)
 
3.   Hold resume for 2 seconds at 60.

4.    Turn off cruise then reset at desired speed. 

Steve
King Control
952 944-9644


I bought the ford lever and it does fit perfectly, I contacted keith as you suggested and he said just twist and put remove pressure on it and it came right out! no special tool. I am just going to wire as per your diagram and test this week. Thanks AGAIN Mr Wolfe the great  !!!
Title: Re: U225 1992 cruise control lever broke
Post by: nitehawk on July 16, 2015, 04:16:17 pm
I accidentally broke my cruise control off the turn signal lever. (Dumbass strikes again!! :-[  :-[ ) I was trying to toggle the switch to "hi beam" and it wouldn't go. Turns out I had telescoped/lowered the steering wheel too much. The bottom rim of the wheel cover wouldn't let the toggle/turn signal lever move up far enough.

I used JB Weld on the two pieces and then put tape on the assembly to hold it together for a few days until the JB Weld cured. That was three years ago.
Title: Re: U225 1992 cruise control lever broke
Post by: poolenglish on July 26, 2015, 07:32:16 pm
replacement turn signal lever fits perfect    (https://www.foreforums.com/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2F%26lt%3Bimg+src%3D%26quot%3Bhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.foreforums.com%2FMGalleryItem.php%3Fid%3D2862%26quot%3B+alt%3D%26quot%3B%26quot%3B+%2F%26gt%3B&hash=71592d5c53bd8f77b8f705aeacb5553b" rel="cached" data-hash="71592d5c53bd8f77b8f705aeacb5553b" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://<img src="http://www.foreforums.com/MGalleryItem.php?id=2862" alt="" />)

http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?action=media;sa=media;in=2862
Title: Re: U225 1992 cruise control lever broke
Post by: wa_desert_rat on July 26, 2015, 07:52:41 pm
Where did you get it?

Craig
Title: Re: U225 1992 cruise control lever broke
Post by: poolenglish on July 26, 2015, 07:59:00 pm
Ebay; I offered $20 and he took it.....there is a pic of it in my profile
Title: Re: U225 1992 cruise control lever broke
Post by: wolfe10 on July 26, 2015, 08:06:50 pm
Do you have a PN you can share with others?
Title: Re: U225 1992 cruise control lever broke
Post by: poolenglish on July 26, 2015, 08:12:10 pm
Do you have a PN you can share with others?
I took a screenshot of my ebay order, I cant figure out how to insert the pic with the stats.

Rostra 250-3168 Cruise Control Handle Switch Signal Lever 4 Select Ford Vehicles;
Rostra 250-3168 OEM style cruise control handle for 1985-1987 Ford Escort, Tempo and Mercury Lynx, Topaz with cruise control handle angled back

Rostra 250 3168 Cruise Control Handle Switch Signal Lever 4 Select Ford... (http://www.ebay.com/itm/120598475471?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT)
Title: Re: U225 1992 cruise control lever broke
Post by: poolenglish on July 27, 2015, 10:06:51 am
Well I hooked up the new cruise control/turn signal arm and followed instructions and wiring. now I need to find the control box for switching the dip switches I guess???.
Because the switch only accelerated when I push in the set button and does not set or hold speed.
Any idea where I can find the control box with the switches anyone?  thanks again
Title: Re: U225 1992 cruise control lever broke
Post by: wolfe10 on July 27, 2015, 11:59:05 am
If you have the King Control Cruise, call Steve:

Steve
King Control
952 944-9644

If you still have the Bendix, sorry, I have no information on it, as when my cruise stalk broke I had already upgraded to the King Control Unit.
Title: Re: U225 1992 cruise control lever broke
Post by: poolenglish on July 27, 2015, 01:47:33 pm
how can I tell what system I have? bendix or king control?
Title: Re: U225 1992 cruise control lever broke
Post by: poolenglish on July 29, 2015, 03:48:53 pm
well I wired the lever according to king control color code. The power switch is correct , the button on the end (set) appears to be accelerate... and accelerates but never sets speed. I do have a bendix box. If an when I get it working I will let yall know.
Title: Re: U225 1992 cruise control lever broke
Post by: wolfe10 on July 29, 2015, 04:02:40 pm
Perhaps someone has a wiring diagram for the Bendix Cruise.

I have one, but it is at home and we are in Madison.

Brett
Title: Re: U225 1992 cruise control lever broke
Post by: poolenglish on July 29, 2015, 06:25:44 pm
bendix cruise wiring topic has manual link here;

http://www.wanderlodgeownersgroup.com/downloads/BendixCruiseCtlManual_Parts.pdf

Bendix Air Cruise Control (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=21837.msg164295#msg164295)

 I just have to figure out what the 4 wires that go to the old lever control.
Title: Re: U225 1992 cruise control lever broke
Post by: poolenglish on August 07, 2015, 04:56:37 pm

  The Bendix cruise I could not get to function with the new turn signal/cruise lever.

SO..... I bought a used king cruise control unit. Is it easy to hook up? here is a pic of what I got, is that all I need ?

http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?action=media;sa=item;in=2878
Title: Re: U225 1992 cruise control lever broke
Post by: wolfe10 on August 07, 2015, 04:58:35 pm
Contact Steve Boler at King Control-- excellent technical support.