Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 11, 2025 ...

Headlight switch removal

August 18, 2017, 10:17:55 pm

I'm trying to remove the headlight switch I have turned it full counterclockwise and pressed the little button still no go, any ideas

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Re: Headlight switch removal

Reply #1 – August 18, 2017, 10:29:21 pm

You are doing it right, just keep trying

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Re: Headlight switch removal

Reply #2 – August 19, 2017, 12:02:35 am

Replacing due to dash light problems. Is it possible that the reostat got hot enough to weld the plastic to the shaft?

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Re: Headlight switch removal

Reply #3 – August 19, 2017, 01:00:57 am

Wow my massive office worker fingers must have bent the detent pin on the new switch Also. Been mucking with this switch for 3 hours

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Re: Headlight switch removal

Reply #4 – August 19, 2017, 08:11:21 am

Its a pain in the ---. I replaced mine a couple of years ago and had the same problem. Stay with it and wiggle as you push button. My sw. turned out to be a GM part. I took the sw.to the auto parts store and matched replacement. be careful to get the same configuration.

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Re: Headlight switch removal

Reply #5 – August 19, 2017, 10:59:56 am

The shaft usually has 3 flat spots you have to line one them up when you push the button.

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Re: Headlight switch removal

Reply #6 – August 23, 2017, 11:01:39 pm

spent another 2 hours monkeying with it tonight, than finally pried the old switch apart and extracted the shaft. Joy, followed by no joy as the new switch would not bite down on the old shaft, another hour tweaking. Joy it bit and it worked, shut the switch and tried it again and shaft pulled out. no joy, joy, no joy. Triangular corners of the shaft are sheared or worn

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Re: Headlight switch removal

Reply #7 – August 23, 2017, 11:11:47 pm

Start the shaft then slam it in and see if it catches.

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Re: Headlight switch removal

Reply #8 – August 23, 2017, 11:56:38 pm

Believe me I tried that, that extremley tiny bit of meat that was on the triangular shaft has sheared or rounded off. Couldn't have been more than. 0.040 inches. May check out an and rewire  for an F150 switch.

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Re: Headlight switch removal

Reply #9 – August 24, 2017, 12:11:21 am

Do a Google search for what ever year the switch is using "headlight switch shaft"
NOS Headlight Switch Knob with Shaft 1955 1956 Ford Pickup Truck | eBay

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Re: Headlight switch removal

Reply #10 – August 26, 2017, 10:21:19 pm

Took a hobby file to it even out the minor  base shaft diameter that was kinda tapered from wear. Kinda like grinding a camshaft base diameter to get more lift. Now more lip to grab and have gingerly operated it a dozen times. Now the question, how long does it take an engineer to change a light switch? Appearantly about 7 hours.

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Re: Headlight switch removal

Reply #11 – March 31, 2018, 06:47:01 pm

Update went to move the coach at dusk, and knob pulled out again and could not get it to grab. Spent $18.00 again for another new switch and within 10 minutes it was replaced and the shaft securely grabbed the first attempt. Do I put the other new one back in the box and get my 18 bucks back and tell them it's defective? So they can put it back on the shelf.

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