Newbee question

[Jaxbro]

I'm sure all of you veterans are shaking your head when I mention push rod tubes. My question is ; do I need a push rod removal tool,or can I pull them out by hand? I did a VW once and I mean ONCE and when I was finished I had bent tubes and had to pull the heads. Any help will be appreciated. One more question. My regular headlights don't work but the bright(4) work. I think it's the switch as its old and stiff and I have to wiggle it to get the parking/dash lights to work. Just the beginning and I hope to post more soon
Thanks,
Jim

[LBC TITAN]

Jaxbro you can twist and remove by hand, but remove the o-ring on the very end before pulling the push rod tube all the way out and reinstall in reverse or you will mess up your new o-ring.
As for the switch you can replace it for about $10.00 from any local parts store.

[cad-kid]

I made my own little tool, a piece of conduit cut in half. The trick is to use something that pushes on the edge of the tube (not the body)

[davemotohead]

Corventure Dave on this forum Sells these Tube removal tools, I use them all the time, works good and No dents in the tubes

[Jaxbro]

Thanks.guys ; Great help

[66vairguy]

If the pushrod tubes were removed before don't be surprised is some character used channel locks and crushed them. They can be salvaged by using a socket just slightly smaller than the diameter (make sure it slide in BOTH ends) and put the socket on an extention and use a big davemotohead hammer to push it through. MAKE SURE the pushrod tube sits square on a piece of wood or you will bend up the end flanges.

When you install the tubes with new Viton "O" rings put a 50/50 mix of good ol' STP additive and motor oil on the "O" rings and they will slip in easy and won't be "nipped" or torn.

[Corventure Dave]

Corventure Dave on this forum Sells these Tube removal tools, I use them all the time, works good and No dents in the tubes

Available at the Palm Springs, Fan Belt Toss only... or from Clarks Corvair parts anytime.

Corventure Dave

[terribleted]

The headlamp problem is almost certainly in the dimmer switch and plug...corrosion causes this exact problem...headlamp switch has no control over the high beam function but supplies all HL power for high and low beams. Replace the switch and the plug and wire ends (Clark's sell a repair wire plug) for the best fix.

[CoCoCo]

When the lights don't work at all, it's often the dimmer switch as the others have mentioned. And of course the main switch can be the culprit too, but the floor-mounted switch can take a real beating.
I thought I'd re-mention too, the in-trunk connector. I think someone else touched on it already, but I remember when I first got my (first) Corvair, it was only six years old, had about 50k miles on it, lived it's whole life in CA and still I got probably an additional 30% brighter headlights simply by pulling the connector apart and then putting it back together. That pesky layer of corrosion that builds up on some connectors was really having it's way with mine. Just that quick act cured it for several years.

Since wiggling the (main?) switch gets the parking lights working, I'd say it's definitely time for a quick check of it, and it's connector's condition, and possibly replacing with a new switch if the connector and wires look ok. It's easy for the wires to have trouble right there, but not unreasonable to assume the switch is on it's way out either.

Good luck.

Paul

[terribleted]

Dash lights not working is often related to dirt or corrosion in the dash lamp dimmer and interior light switch that is built into the headlamp switch. The headlamp switch is cheap if they have any issues or corrosion I simply replace them. Exterior parking lights turning off when wiggling the switch certainly points to main switch problems or corrosion where it plugs into the main wiring harness. I would suggest that if there are many corroded plugs in the dash harness a repro harness can save a lot of headaches and provide improved reliability.

[Lunar_Camel]

Buy the tool. I got mine from Clark's to replace a bent tube. Replaced all of the tubes (since I was in there) and the tool made it so much easier. The tubes slide right out with a little tapping from a hammer and you don't have to worry about damaging them.