1960 park brake warning light

[Donald H.]

I'm putting the park brake warning light components on my car. I am trying to bench test the flasher. I have a Tung-Sol 642 that I bought off Ebay quite a while back. It looks new and came in an original box.

Here's how I've been trying to test it. I have the correct wiring harness and a 12 volt source. Connected a ground to the lamp shield then the positive side to a wire to the flasher then another wire from the other flasher connection to the lamp base connection.

I get a constant light, i.e. the light come on, so I'm pretty sure I have it connect correctly with the positive power sourcing going to and through the flasher. The flasher never starts flashing. I don't think it matters, but I've also actually switched the two wires to the flasher and it still doesn't flash.

Does it take a quite a while for the flasher to warm up? Maybe I'm not leaving it connected long enough.

Does the flasher has some kind of bimetal strip that causes it to flash and if so, maybe I need to give it some persuasion with a tap with something?

I did some research in the archives and if I can't get this flasher to work, then I assume my only alternative is to leave installed and connected for judging purposed and use a type 257 flashing lamp.

Thanks,

Don

[Dennis C.]

Re: 1960 park brake warning light

Don,

Have you confirmed on the wiring diagram that a flasher is used for the brake warning light? I thought the flashing was done from the bulb.

Dennis

[Donald H.]

Re: 1960 park brake warning light

Don,

Have you confirmed on the wiring diagram that a flasher is used for the brake warning light? I thought the flashing was done from the bulb.

Dennis

Yes, for 1960 (and earlier as far as i know) a separate flasher was used. The wiring is shown in the AIM as well as the flasher with part number. My flasher for sure does not work so I'll end up using the flashing bulb. I believe the bulb with built in flasher was first used in 61 or 62. I believe it is a #257 versus the standard #90 which is supposed to be used with the 60.

[John F.]

Re: 1960 park brake warning light

62 is like this.

[Jim D.]

Re: 1960 park brake warning light

The 642 is the correct flasher for a 1960. Are you using the correct bulb as the wattage of the bulb is what makes the flasher work? When working properly, there is no warm up time, it should start blinking right away. The #257 flashing bulb has completely different flashing characteristics than the 642 with a correct bulb. Very easy to tell the difference between the two.

[Donald H.]

Re: 1960 park brake warning light

The 642 is the correct flasher for a 1960. Are you using the correct bulb as the wattage of the bulb is what makes the flasher work? When working properly, there is no warm up time, it should start blinking right away. The #257 flashing bulb has completely different flashing characteristics than the 642 with a correct bulb. Very easy to tell the difference between the two.

From everything I can tell I do have the correct bulb. It is a #53 that came with my Lectric Limited park brake sub-harness. I also found a cross reference to the AIM part number 131282 for the bulb. The cross reference shows that part number to be a #53 bulb.

Does anyone know of a more modern flasher that will replicate the 642 flashing characteristics?

It appears I am probably OK anyway. I was concerned about the Operations part of judging, however, I just check the 58-60 TIM & JG, and it says that the Park Brake Alarm is "Equipped with a # 257 flashing bulb. In some cases may require up to one minute to being flashing. It will remain lighted during warm up period."

So either the AIM is wrong in calling for a non flashing bulb and a separate flasher or the Judging Guide is not correct. If the Judging Guide is correct, then maybe I should order the park brake harness like used in the 62 that John has picture above.

I have attached the page from the 60 AIM that shows the separate flasher.

Thanks,
Don



Park Light copy.jpg