Hey been doing a lot of work on the interior stripping out the cab for a overhaul, can't seem to get the damn **** off for the headlights, any help on what I'm missing here lol ??

 

Reach up under the dash to the headlight switch, there is a mechanical push-button that
you can push to release the **** + stem as a single unit.

Something like this although the button MAY be on top:

 

Thanks a lot !!

 

ctubutis,

I tried to rep you, but it wouldn't let me. I was just thinking that you have a lot of knowledge, are willing to share it and often post excellent pictures to assist. Thanks!

 

You can just remov the the **** with a 90deg or a hook pick, there is a notch at the base of the **** if you pull on the clip there with a pick the **** slides off. (sorry I can't describe it better)

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1986F150six

ctubutis,

I tried to rep you, but it wouldn't let me. I was just thinking that you have a lot of knowledge, are willing to share it and often post excellent pictures to assist. Thanks!

Thanks, man!
I try to help where & when I can.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bashby

You can just remov the the **** with a 90deg or a hook pick, there is a notch at the base of the **** if you pull on the clip there with a pick the **** slides off. (sorry I can't describe it better)

This is what I thought, too. Perhaps mine is different, perhaps it's been
molested by a PO, but my **** seems to be glued to the stem. Some guy in a
junkyard a few years ago showed me about that button, it's the only thing
I've ever used ever since.

 

I think ford used that setup on a lot of cars, it's pretty tough to get to the button on some (I dont think I've ever tried on my truck), once you get the **** off you can take the dash trim piece off, then get to the instrument cluster without having to contort your wrist in ways that it wasnt meant to move. ctubutis, Does your wiper **** come off like the headlight **** should? Maybe someone did glue it on

 

Thanks for the replies everyone, and thanks alot for the pic Ctubutis.... I used the button and it worked perfectly !!

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by bashby

ctubutis, Does your wiper **** come off like the headlight **** should? Maybe someone did glue it on

Yeah! That comes off just fine, I learned long ago to use a dental pick or some
such to release that spring.

Those same spring retainers are used on the chrome buttons on the HVAC
controls, this is another thing that Ford has used for a long time (at least
1970-ish, possibly earlier (bashby, you prolly already know this)).

 

Ok, not sure of the year separation, however doesn't the newer trucks (91 ish) headlight **** come off via the button with the pick method, and the older trucks (86 ish) have a release button like in the above image provided by ctubutis.

Thats what I've seen, however I am far from a Ford guru and do not know for sure.

-Enjoy
fh : )_~

 

My 83 definitely comes off via the dental pick method. I haven't successfully tried the button method, although I'm not saying it can't be done.

 

I tried the button method on my 89, and it's pretty much impossible to get your hand under the dash to get to the button, if it exists on that model. But on my 80 it was very easy to push the button and pull the whole thing out.

 

IIRC, when you buy a new headlight switch it doesnt come with the shaft for the ****, so if you use the pick to get the **** off, then detach the switch from the dash you still have to push the button to remove the shaft from the old switch to reuse it. Sometimes they are tricky even if you can get to the button, I've had them that I push, pull cuss, beat on it, throw it, still wouldnt come out. 5 min later push the button and it comes right out.

 

My 86, I reached under and pushed the button, pulled the **** off ... Grabbed the shaft and pulled it out, shaft was barbed and the **** was not intended to be removed, I'd say some PO didn't know how to remove it properly!

I'll epoxy it when I put it back together.

-Enjoy
fh : )_~

 

I always managed to tear up my wrist trying to get to that button, and it never did work but once. I had some old picks in the shop, and I bent the end of one into an L and now I use that and it gets the ***** off every time.