Removing the neutral safety switch..for good?

[ab_70chevy]

Just curious to see if anyone has removed the neutral safety switch completely? Iv removed mine to replace it and now I can't seem to get it back in the damn hole. I'm getting to the point where I'm so frustrated with it, I just want to get rid of it. Anyone else done this?

[Ol Blue K20]

It's possible but you won't have back up lights. It will also start in gear. You just have to make a jumper wire and jump the purple wires.

[jjzepplin]

I think this would be an unsafe act. Keep at it and get it back in there. It is sometimes difficult but is necessary. You may have the switch positioned incorrectly. I hooked mine to the wiring and moved the lever til the reverse lights came on and then put the shift lever in reverse gear and it was then aligned ok and with a little wiggling boom.

[chuckmc8]

Compare the tab that slides into the shifter shaft (the part that moves) with the width of that same part on the one you removed. You may have to narrow the tab slightly if the manufacturing tolerances weren't exact.

Don't leave it off and get someone hurt. Seen that happen!

[cooperhw]

If you could look at one off the truck you will see how simple of a design they are. I moved my column all the way against the dash to give some more room between the wheel and the belly. In doing so the safety switch also needed to move up the column. Well cutting the hole in the outer skin was simple but when you look inside there's no piece of metal to operate the switch. I just bent a piece out of scrap and carefully welded it to the inner shaft that actually moves. Screwed it back on and good to go.
Look under there with a flashlight and a mirror so you can position the tab first before placing the safety switch?

[truckster]

Mine is bypassed. The advantage is that if I need to restart while offroading, I don't have to shift into park or neutral. I haven't had any accidents with it, but I'm also the only one who drives my Blazer.

Older vehicles didn't have a safety interlock on manual transmissions. You just need to be smart enough to know if the vehicle is in gear before you turn the key.

[jjzepplin]

True - but I am installing a clutch safety switch on my manual for safety. I'm getting old.

[ab_70chevy]

Thanks fellas, I'll mess with it more tonight before I get mad and burn it to the ground.

[Hupper7]

Originally Posted by jjzepplin

I think this would be an unsafe act. Keep at it and get it back in there. It is sometimes difficult but is necessary. You may have the switch positioned incorrectly. I hooked mine to the wiring and moved the lever til the reverse lights came on and then put the shift lever in reverse gear and it was then aligned ok and with a little wiggling boom.

JJ, I used your reverse light trick, after wrestling with this for a few hours.
Worked like a charm and done in a few minutes.

This forum has helped me out many times with my build.

[Sheepdip]

I have found the best way to adjust those NSS is with an ohm meter. Put your gear selector in N and fine tune it until you get a reading....then put it in R and check it for a reading, it should be good to go.

[68PanelTruck]

Many years ago I was working in my fathers auto repair shop. An old step van was towed into the garage because it wouldn't start. I charged the battery, hopped in and took off the engine cover. I sat on the drivers seat sideways with one hand on the carb and the other on the key. Pumped the gas a few times and then turned the key. After cranking for about 10 seconds, the engine fired up and BAM! The van surged backward and slammed into the garage door, folding the lower section in half. I was able to shut it down and thankfully no one was hurt. Someone had jumped the safety switch at some point and the owner left the van in reverse when it died and had it towed in. I should have checked to make sure the shifter was in park, I know. Please don't remove the safety switch.

[fun in dirt]

Originally Posted by ab_70chevy

Thanks fellas, I'll mess with it more tonight before I get mad and burn it to the ground.

I totally feel your frustration ... been messing with mine for the past 3 afternoons trying to get it adjusted correctly. The slot on switch is on the metal column strip but I just can't get it adjusted correctly. After slotting the the switches hold down tabs more so it will rotate toward drivers side a little more, it now has backup lights in R, but still N safety contacting in P & D, instead of N ... I guess need to slot it more & rotate more, but R in switch is so short scared I 'll loose that ... guess I'll keep fooling with it, maybe

[Southcity]

As an fyi. I kept my neutral safety switch such that reverse lights are still wired to it and function but, removed the purple ignition wires. I then ran them through a toggle switch which I hid under the dash so that I could manually disable/enable. A little extra theft deterrent when/if needed.

[jjzepplin]

Originally Posted by Hupper7

JJ, I used your reverse light trick, after wrestling with this for a few hours.
Worked like a charm and done in a few minutes.

This forum has helped me out many times with my build.

Well I am glad I was able to help even one person on here as I have been helped so many times in the past. I am about to convert a van column to a truck column due to it's tilt mechanism, so I have to fool with this switch again. Thanks for reminding me how I did it the first time. It really was very easy. I only had the issue due to installing the 700R4 and modifying the column to be able to manually shift the trans into first gear. AND WELCOME to the board!

[HO455]

Another reason to have the neutral safety switch operational is if the starter switch shorts internally and the starter stays running when the engine starts. Put the truck in gear and the starter will stop running while you shut the engine off.