Hi guys. The turn signal switch was very stiff since I bought my 1980, but I assumed it was normal and actually loved the way it felt as it had a nice solid mechanical feel to it sharply clicking into place. It felt like the best turn signal switch I've ever had. One day I tried to put my left signal on while sitting at a stop sign and it didn't want to go (as in it was going to take excess force). Wondering what was going on, but so far not at all sure there was any actual problem I put it in the right turn position and then tried again fairly gently to switch it to left. I was quite shocked when the lever broke clean off in my hand. I suppose it's possible the wheels were turned just the the point where the cancelling cam was in the way, but it's more likely they were pointed pretty close to straight ahead. Turning the wheel a bit would have been my next move if the lever hadn't broken off.

I've seen tutorials and replacing the lever without taking the column apart so that's not what I'm asking about. What I would like to know is what the underlying cause of the original problem would be that caused this or if it's more likely it was just the cancelling cam behaving normally, if there's a way to try to fix it without taking the column apart, and whether or not it's normal for the switch on my 1980 to to be significantly stiffer than 60's cars I've owned.

I should be able to replace the arm without taking apart the column, but there's no point in doing that if I'm going to just break off another lever, and/or the signal switch is actually damaged or defective and needs to be replaced anyway. On the other hand if the turn signal switch is perfectly good I really don't want to take apart the column.

Thank you for any advice you can offer.

 

On my 78 the turn signal lever was stiff and eventually broke off. On disassembly I found the original grease in the switch had become rock-hard, partially blocking a clean movement. The switch itself isn’t very robust and an early 78 replacement was hard to find. To be on the safe side, I usually don’t fully engage the turn signal, but just hold it there like when you’re changing lanes.
Charlie

 

sounds like my switch. pain to get to but it was full of grit and just froze up.
grease like said.
cleaned it and works nice.

 

My turn signal lever broke 2 days ago as well, but I think I have to take column apart. Did you take your column apart? I saw the tutorial as well and that didn't work for me.

 

you might try some brake cleaner or electric cleaner in a spray can with the red extension spray tube.
tilt wheel, put all the way up, big rag at seam to catch fluid

 

Not yet, I was hoping to avoid it. The job doesn't look that bad but I've got a major time shortage.

 

Edit: It looks like isopropyl alcohol is considered really good for dissolving grease and I'd be comfortable spraying that in there after protecting or removing my drivers side carpet. I have it on hand for cleaning 3D printed resin parts. I just need a sprayer with an extension tube as the ones I use for 3D printing don't have that. Thanks for the idea.