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Brake Alarm Switch

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Old May 19, 2010 | 08:31 PM
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Default Brake Alarm Switch

On the 1960 vette, could someone please advise me as to where the emergency brake alarm switch fits on the emergency brake handle to work properly??????????
Thanks in Advance
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Old May 19, 2010 | 08:37 PM
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IF IT IS LIKE MY 62, then it's near the base of the parking brake assembly, near the firewall.
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Old May 19, 2010 | 10:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Tinat
On the 1960 vette, could someone please advise me as to where the emergency brake alarm switch fits on the emergency brake handle to work properly??????????
Thanks in Advance
This should help but you have to adjust the position to get the little 'nub' on the parking brake rod to turn the switch on and off at the right points.

Last edited by Frankie the Fink; Nov 6, 2010 at 04:03 PM.
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Old May 19, 2010 | 11:21 PM
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Thanks a bunch, the picture helped out alot
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Old May 20, 2010 | 08:56 AM
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does a 63 have the alarm as well
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Old May 20, 2010 | 09:22 PM
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Originally Posted by sbpogge
does a 63 have the alarm as well
Yup - looks like the photo below (from Dave Zuberer, I think).
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Old May 21, 2010 | 01:12 PM
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Thanks John. I meant to dig that out last nite. Yup, that's one of mine.

Dave Z
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Old Aug 8, 2010 | 04:19 PM
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When adjusting the switch, how far should the pin go into the switch? Does the pin have to just contact the switch or push up the contact into the plunger? I just had the contact rebuilt on mine. Do I need to pull the alarm bulb in the dash?
John F
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Old Aug 8, 2010 | 07:06 PM
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Well of course the pin has to force the plunger upward...its what activates the switch...the springy tab is just a 'ramp' for the pin to get to the plunger...

I don't understand the bulb question...it must be in the dash for the assembly to work naturally.
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Old Aug 8, 2010 | 09:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Frankie the Fink
This should help but you have to adjust the position to get the little 'nub' on the parking brake rod to turn the switch on and off at the right points.
hmmmm, that photo looks familiar. That's my '59. Glad to see my photos help the cause.

By the way, you also need the flasher. In that photo it's attached to the aluminum brace along the side of the inner fender. I don't think the 60 used the flasher bulb, or did it?

Rich
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Last edited by rich5962; Aug 8, 2010 at 09:42 PM.
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Old Aug 9, 2010 | 09:54 PM
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How much of a delay is there once the parking brake handle is pulled out for the dash light to start flashing? I take it that the ignition switch must be in the "on" position. My question about the dash bulb is whether it is working or not. Once the pin slides under the contact on the switch it pushes up to engage the plunger. How far must the plunger be pushed "up"? Or is it just enough to make contact and then a delay until the bulb starts flashing?
John F
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Old Aug 10, 2010 | 09:00 AM
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In my '61 the bulb IS the flasher...since it operates off a thermal cut out internally it needs enough time for the bulb to heat up enough to begin flashing. My experience (almost daily use) is that it takes roughly 3-5 seconds, with the bulb burning, before the continuous flashing starts.
Can't say if this is how it worked in an original configuration but this is certainly how the reproduction bulbs work.

As far as the pin...it needs to depress the plunger enough to close the flasher circuit. A check with an ohmmeter on the two wires to the switch will tell you how far the plunger must travel to do this.
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Old Aug 10, 2010 | 09:47 AM
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Originally Posted by Frankie the Fink
In my '61 the bulb IS the flasher...since it operates off a thermal cut out internally it needs enough time for the bulb to heat up enough to begin flashing. My experience (almost daily use) is that it takes roughly 3-5 seconds, with the bulb burning, before the continuous flashing starts.
Can't say if this is how it worked in an original configuration but this is certainly how the reproduction bulbs work.

As far as the pin...it needs to depress the plunger enough to close the flasher circuit. A check with an ohmmeter on the two wires to the switch will tell you how far the plunger must travel to do this.
Frank, yes 61 & 62(and beyond) used the flasher bulb, 58-60 used the Tungsol flasher mounted to the kick panel frame.

John F,

....If the bulb doesn't flash, then you likely don't have a flasher bulb installed. Original 58-60 used that separate Tunsol flasher, so if it's missing you either need one of those(rare & $), or just get a flasher bulb and replace the standard bulb that's in there. To test it without worrying about the park brake switch, just connect the 2 brown wires at the switch together to complete the circuit, bypassing the switch and see if that lights the bulb. (don't touch metal with the 2 browns)

Rich
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