Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Discussions => Topic started by: wgmiles61 on December 05, 2024, 11:29:30 am

Title: 1992 U300 turn signal / cruise control lever replacement suggestions needed
Post by: wgmiles61 on December 05, 2024, 11:29:30 am
I have a 1992 Unihome 300.  The turn signal / cruise control lever has broken and will not stay on the shaft going into the steering column.  The parts guys in Nacogdoches don't have a replacement in stock and cannot provide a manufacturer and part number.  Can anyone provide that number or recommend something that could be purchased from NAPA, AutoZone, etc?
Title: Re: 1992 U300 turn signal / cruise control lever replacement suggestions needed
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on December 05, 2024, 02:28:58 pm
Welcome to the Forum!  Always nice to see a new member pop up around here.

At least two Forum members that I know of, myself and nitehawk, successfully repaired our turn signal levers when they broke.  We were forced to do this because as far as I know there is no suitable replacement available.  If your lever is broken or cracked at the point where the retaining pin is inserted, then you might try a repair.  Nitehawk and I both used J-B Weld epoxy to stick the two pieces together and reinforce the original weak structure.  See the threads linked below for more info.

Turn signal stalk (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=40290.0)

Grand Villa Steering Wheel Removal (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=29695.msg252946#msg252946)



Title: Re: 1992 U300 turn signal / cruise control lever replacement suggestions needed
Post by: Andy 2 on December 05, 2024, 03:23:28 pm
Ours broke by the po, He reparid it as mentioned  above and it has work great for 10 years. He used jb weld also. Doesn't look great but it has held up well.
Title: Re: 1992 U300 turn signal / cruise control lever replacement suggestions needed
Post by: kgrover on December 05, 2024, 04:17:15 pm
Cruise Control Switches by Rostra (https://www.rostra.com/aftermarket-cruise-control-switches-by-rostra.php)

I don't know what the end of the shaft looks like in the column, but these are some universal switches. The wiring to the cruise is pretty simple. I was upside down soldering mine back together on a recent trip after a wire broke. One wire is power, the others are just on, set and resume. Should be easy to wire in a new switch. 
Title: Re: 1992 U300 turn signal / cruise control lever replacement suggestions needed
Post by: Bob & Sue on December 05, 2024, 06:23:46 pm
Had to be an automotive part. Just need to find out which car.  Then off to the auto wreckers ??
Title: Re: 1992 U300 turn signal / cruise control lever replacement suggestions needed
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on December 05, 2024, 07:10:00 pm
I don't know what the end of the shaft looks like in the column...
(speaking from hazy memory here)

The fixed metal turn signal lever is a simple straight rod, roughly 3" long and 3/16" diameter.  Has a hole that receives a roll pin, which locks the plastic cruise control assembly in place, after it slides on the metal rod.

The metal rod does not extend far enough into the plastic cruise control assembly, resulting in a very weak joint.  Kind of like a knife where the tang of the blade is very short, making for a weak connection between blade and handle.  When you put pressure on the turn signal lever all the force is concentrated right where the securing pin is located, resulting in a tendency for the plastic to fracture at that point.

The repair process entails filling the inside of the hollow cruise control body (in the area where it mounts on the metal rod) with J-B Weld and then sticking it back on the rod to set up and cure.  I also reinstalled the roll pin in mine to help strengthen the connection.  Once the epoxy cures, the assembly is significantly more robust.  Although, like nitehawk, I also make a practice of gripping the stalk close to the steering column when activating the turn signals and high beams.  This hopefully reduces the strain on the repaired joint.  My repair has held up just fine for 8+ years (knock on wood).