Steering column indicator switch failing?

[aeberbach]

I have a problem with the indicators, the steering wheel column indicator stalk is working intermittently.

If normal indicator operation makes a sound like tick, tick, tick, tick, with the dash and exterior lamps flashing, what I have goes ticktickticktick twice as fast and neither the dash nor the exterior indicator lights work.

...so when I go to make a turn nobody knows I am going to do it unless I hear the fast tick and quickly nudge it to make it work right.

On some cars this would mean the bulb was gone but they work most of time so I think it's the steering column switch. Is this a serviceable switch with big old contacts that could be cleaned or something? I have looked at it yet but if there is nothing to be done once they start failing I may as well wait until I have a replacement before dismantling.

[poolnoodle]

The fast ticking normally means the flasher control unit is fooked.
It is attached to the base of the indicator stalk