Speedy6111

Active Member

• Jun 4, 2019

• #1

Folks - my headlights stop working after I’ve indicated. A quick pull on the stalk (ie, a high beam flash) restores the headlight. So clearly there is a contact issue in the stalk.

Can switches be cleaned? Do the contacts just wear out? Do I clean or replace?

Replacements are £14 for Britpart or £22 for OE/ Lucas.

Thanks

 

C

Colthebrummie

Well-Known Member

• Jun 4, 2019

• #2

First, just check the connectors, there may be a loose one. You may need to buy a new one though.

Col

 

Bobsticle

De Villes Advocaat

• Jun 4, 2019

• #3

Last resort.

The new ones are garbage.

 

R

rob1miles

Well-Known Member

• Jun 4, 2019

• #4

As above, clean what you have, it will outlast several replacments. Be creative, you can run solder on contacts to build them up,

 

Speedy6111

Active Member

• Jun 4, 2019

• #5

Thanks all. I will attempt to save the original. I had wondered about solder so will see how the contacts are when I pull it apart.

 

Blackburn

Well-Known Member

• Jun 4, 2019

• #6

Best fit some relays to take the load off the contacts. Boomslang do a kit sold by Paddocks

 

Ironstrike

Well-Known Member

• Jun 4, 2019

• #7

Speedy6111 said:

Folks - my headlights stop working after I’ve indicated. A quick pull on the stalk (ie, a high beam flash) restores the headlight. So clearly there is a contact issue in the stalk.

Can switches be cleaned? Do the contacts just wear out? Do I clean or replace?

Replacements are £14 for Britpart or £22 for OE/ Lucas.

Thanks

Click to expand...

Stay away from Britpart stalks, they fall apart before you can even fit them

 

steve2286w

Well-Known Member

• Jun 4, 2019

• #8

Are you sure the one on is not a cheapy , my replacement cheapy had soft copper contacts in it that didn’t offfer the springiness for good contact and lead to flickering lights , I tried adjusting them but that didn’t work and then splashed out on a Lucas , been on now for years

 

Speedy6111

Active Member

• Jun 5, 2019

• #9

steve2286w said:

Are you sure the one on is not a cheapy , my replacement cheapy had soft copper contacts in it that didn’t offfer the springiness for good contact and lead to flickering lights , I tried adjusting them but that didn’t work and then splashed out on a Lucas , been on now for years

Click to expand...

Fair question. I have no idea. I guess I take it apart and look for a makers mark?

 

Speedy6111

Active Member

• Jun 5, 2019

• #10

Ok. Had a look. Loose contact on the power wire aggravated by the up/ down motion of the indicator stalk. Construction was a copper rivet joining a contact to the switch body. That rivet was slightly loose. Compress with needlenose pliers and a dab of solder. Seems ok now, time will tell if it’s durable.
Couldn’t tell if it was OEM or a replacement. General patina might suggest OEM but ???

Thanks for the help folks.

 

R

rob1miles

Well-Known Member

• Jun 5, 2019

• #11

With this type of stuff I think its worth getting OEM parts from auto jumbles and fixing them up ready as they will last much longer then the modern replacements.

 

Riggwelter

Active Member

• Jun 9, 2019

• #12

Here is a selection of stalks... the price tags probably speak for themselves.