IML: signal sw. removal 67 imperial

["Chris Strohmeyer" <chrisstroh@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Below is what I read on the Imp club site, but he doesn't mention HOW this 
outer column sleeve is physically attached. Does it drive  off? Is it just a 
press fit? Dick Benjemin mentions to bend the switch to get it out without 
removing the sleeve, but at the price of these switches I don't want to take 
the chance of breaking the existing one which I may be able to be repaired. 
Mine has the red color and has no broken parts but the main rivet that holds 
it together might be the problem. I don't really need to get it all the way 
out, I just need it outside the sleeve to see what's keeping it from staying 
engaged when the signal lever is depressed. It's possible that whomever 
replaced this switch might have damaged it forcing it in there.
So how do I get this sleeve off and what is this special tool to remove it?

Thx,
Chris Strohmeyer
67 Imperial Convertible (read below)


I presume getting that tubular sleeve off is what is stopping you cold. One 
way to get it off is to use a piece of hardwood or a nylon drift (available 
at gun shops, looks like a glue stick) to tap it loose from the tilt opening 
(the lever screws out, just twist it!) and then work a screwdriver into the 
gap at the base of the column. My car would have none of that, that !@#$ 
sleeve was TIGHT! What I wound up doing was to pry the lip up with a 
scgewdriver (in an attempt to loosen the sleeve, no deal!) I then attached a 
pair of vise-grips to two sides of the pried up lip and alternately hammered 
on the vise-grips to get the !@#$ off! Once off I measured up to the mangled 
part and carefully wrapped masking tape around the outside, cut off the 
mangled 3/8 inch or so and filed down to the edge of the tape. The tape 
protected the paint on the sleeve and if someone didn't know the sleeve had 
a lip, you can't tell it has ever been altered! It's all hidden by the wheel 
anyway. Best of all, if the switch ever needs replacing again, the sheeve 
won't have to be touched!



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