Simple question from a simple guy

[def38]

I am attempting to remove the knob on the rotary headlight switch on my 231 but, I cannot see the set screw to determine the head type; blade, Phillips, hex or whatever. I've tried poking several things into the set screw hole but, nothing turns the set screw.

Help someone.

Thank you.

def

 

[Budweiser John]

Might try a brighter flashlight......
B. John

 

[dannoGT]

Get a little bit of playdough from the grandkids and roll into small ball press into the hole and leave it there for a second then very very gently pull out without deforming it you should now be able to see what kind of screw and if it's an Allen key you can compare size with impression

 

[prichard]

I often use phone camera to take picture to see something like that clearly

 

[Phillip w]

Might try a brighter flashlight......
B. John

I have to agree. Get one of those really bright led flashlights. If you ever own one, you will throw rocks at a conventional flashlight. Some of these new phones have an led flashlight. My phone has one and i've used on several occasions instead of a drop light.

 

[M5farms]

most older tractors had a flat head set screw . but I have seen allen screws also

 

[def38]

Get a little bit of playdough from the grandkids and roll into small ball press into the hole and leave it there for a second then very very gently pull out without deforming it you should now be able to see what kind of screw and if it's an Allen key you can compare size with impression

Danno, there is no straight path to the set screw and so any impression will be ruined by the time i get it out of the hole. The access hole to the set screw is about 1/8 " diameter.

 

[def38]

I often use phone camera to take picture to see something like that clearly

My phone camera, while 10 MP, will not have enough light for a detailed image.

 

[dannoGT]

As mentioned above is there any chance of getting cell phone camera in place and take picture? Beauty of this is one you have picture you can "zoom" in to look at fastener . The other old trick was to take silicone sealer and place in hole and let it cure (leave yourself a good size handle to pull it out) the problem with this on a 1/8 hole is that if silicone plug breaks in hole you will then need a dentist pick and half hour of playing dentist to get plug out!

 

[def38]

It's probably going to take someone who has recently messed with the setscrew on his headlight switch knob.

Thanks to all so far...:thumbsup:

 

[dannoGT]

If you have dealer nearby go and see if he has one on the shelf you can look at?

 

[def38]

OK, all of you that have replied are wrong...me too! There is no set screw. I got out my high dollar inspection camera and did my best to determine what was in the hole and?................(drum roll)................



It is empty...yes, empty...no set screw...trust me, I poked a tool into that hole and there is nothing there. The knob fits with friction fit into a shaft with a flatted side. So, thank you all for your SWAG's and ideas for removing the set screw, etc.





But, that leaves me with an enigma...what the heck is the hole for?

Any ideas? :confused2: :anyone:

 

[prichard]

Glad you got it even if you proved everyone wrong.

 

[def38]

Glad you got it even if you proved everyone wrong.

It was only with everyone's assistance that I got to the bottom of it.

 

[def38]

:tractor: :jump:

News flash....there has been a new development in the mystery of the headlight switch knob....there is a mechanism for holding the knob in place on the shaft.

There is a spring loaded pin in the shaft that captures and holds the knob on the shaft. It is small and difficult to see with 79 year old eyes in a 1600 sq. ft. garage with the lights off but it's there. So, that answers the question regarding the hole in the knob and just how the knob is held in place. The design is better than a set screw that would likely strip the plastic. The design is likely costly to produce but the switch is high quality and unlikely to fail over time and the knob will stay in place for decades, proven by the age of my M-F (circa 2003, made in Turkey) and the fact that it took considerable fiddling to solve the mystery.