'48 Head Light Switch & Circuit Breaker

Posted by DavidPackard On 2014/3/29 22:44:05

I have a question about my "brand new '48 Deluxe Eight". The headlights cycle on and off much like the circuit breaker is opening and closing. I have measured the total current in both high beam and low beam operation, the current flow is in the order of 20 amperes total with the low beam having a slightly lower current. That would be well within the nominal range. There does not appear to be any transients in the reading but since the test was rather short the lights remained on throughout. When I'm out on the road the ammeter occasionally has the heebie-jeebies when the lights are ON and rock steady with them OFF. I suspect the poor regulator is trying (but failing) to keep-up with the potential of an ON/OFF 20 amp transient load. The question I have is how does one remove the chrome outer switch cover to gain access to the nut that secures the switch/circuit breaker assembly to the dash. I'd rather ask before I break something. I would like to remove the assembly and run a few 'under load' bench tests with the current circuit breaker and with a modern unit as a comparison.

To date I've checked the beam selector 'toe-switch',and inspected for chaffing . . . all is well. I've added temporary fuses in the low beam circuits (one for each), the fuses are being used as 'tattletales', but they too are in good shape.