Delay wiper switch question

[two-bit]

After all these years i finally broke down and salvaged a complete delay wiper switch from a '78 F-350 Super-cab that i found in a salvage yard today.

I found the tutorial on how to hook it up. (Very informative!!! )

My question is....where is the "off" position?
If i rotate the the knob to the right (clockwise), i get a long distance of little resistance, then a click, then another, then one more. Counter clockwise is the opposite series of events.
Is the "off" position all the way to clockwise, counter clockwise, or maybe in the center?

I think it goes: delay, off, low, high. (rotating the knob clockwise) Thats what i'm guessing, but i'm not sure.

Can anyone help me out?

Two-bit

[fordman]

i think your right. couterclock wise is off.

[Joshpow]

The switch should be delay, which is a large selection for multipe delay speeds, off, low, and high. Anyways the one in my 72 from a 77 is in that order. It is like the standard switch, but with the delay to the left of the off position.

[Dragon]

all the way counter clockwise is off. Off, delay, low, medium, High.

[70shortwide]

mine are both delay, off, low, high.

[Dragon]

The 76 switch I got is the way I said.

[Joshpow]

That's odd that the switches would differ like that. All of the ones I've dealt with were like mine. Oh well, I guess it isn't set in stone how the positions are laid out.

[Dragon]

I was working for Hunt Ford in 1976. We replaced our F3 Wrecker with a 76 F350 and the night driver complained about the wipers firing on every bump. We did not know something special was happening. I went on the road and not on the bumps but every so often the wiper would sweep. I reached down and turned the knob to low and it worked normal, same with high. Rolled it back and it turned a long way to off. I went into the shop to get a replacement switch. Turns out our 1776 F350 was an early 1977 model and it had variable wipers. They gave me the paperwork for the sales people to take back and show the shop. That one was the same as mine.

If you turn your switch all the way counterclockwise the wipers will stop completely. They also will stop completely just before you enter low sweep. I don't feel a detent in the middle place on mine but I do feel one all the way counter clockwise.

[Joshpow]

Mine from the 77 has a sweep wihtout a detent to the left. At the end of the sweep to the right, there is a detent for off. Then one for low and then a high detent. I guess it depends on the swich used. Mine is definately a Ford piece from a 77 f150. Who knows. That is only one of Fords many wonders!

[Thunderfoot]

I think it goes: delay, off, low, high. (rotating the knob clockwise) Thats what i'm guessing, but i'm not sure.

The one I just put in my Highboy is just like that

I have no idea for sure what year the switch it's out of, as this one was an EBay special...

[mk]

Hey T/foot, do you have any part numbers on your switch or timer box? That's the first I've heard of that wiper switch not having off in between delay and low speed.

mike

[Thunderfoot]

Hey T/foot, do you have any part numbers on your switch or timer box? That's the first I've heard of that wiper switch not having off in between delay and low speed.

mike

mine has the off between the delay (to the left CCW) and low (to the right CW)...(delay, off, low, high) I didn't check the part number on mine before I installed it... I have another switch for my shorty and it is this same way...

Dragon is the one that has the switch with off all the way to the left (CCW)...

I may be pulling my instrument cluster out to work on the speedometer cable and I can check mine then if you still want the number on mine

[mk]

Sorry, been a long day. I read it as being the same as dragon's switch
Now... dragon, do you have any numbers on your switch or timer box...


mike

[Hawkrod]

The delay wiper switches are not supposed to turn off when turned all of the way to the left. If they do turn off when turned all of the way to the left it is because the switch is internally damaged. They are designed to have delay to the left, off in the middle, and normal sweep to the right. The intermittents actually came out on 73 trucks and there were several variations but according to the engineering prints the changes are related to the control unit timer and not to the switch design. There are actually two switch designs but they are physically interchangeable and carry the same part number. One has detents in the delay section and the other does not. The 80's switches are also interchangeable but they were slightly redesigned to eliminate the seperate power source for the windshield washers so you have to swap the two washer wires in the connector to make it work. Hawkrod

[Thunderfoot]

The 80's switches are also interchangeable but they were slightly redesigned to eliminate the seperate power source for the windshield washers so you have to swap the two washer wires in the connector to make it work. Hawkrod

Ah, that explains why the one I got and used in my Highboy didn’t have a power wire connection for the washer power, but the washer works. Must be one from an 80’s model.

Good info!