How Does Battery Cable Connect to Shut Off Switch?

[hundredsixinsf]

The positive cable that should be connected to the shut off switch (round knob looking part in trunk, I assume) is disconnected in my Healey. I can't tell how exactly it was connected to the shut off switch. Can someone tell me how exactly to reconnect it?

 

[Randy_Gay]

Make sure your switch is in good condition, first. There should be two lugs on the back of the switch - one to the battery, the other to 'earth'.

 

[John Loftus]

Re: How Does Battery Cable Connect to Shut Off Swi

I have a few pictures of the switch and main cables on my website:
battery switch

Black covered cable goes to the battery, woven ground strap goes to the frame near the switch mounting and the third connector is for the thin white (with black stripe) wire that grounds the ignition as a theft deterrent.

Cheers,
John

 

[Randy Forbes]

Re: How Does Battery Cable Connect to Shut Off Swi

I have a few pictures of the switch and main cables on my website:
battery switch

Black covered cable goes to the battery, woven ground strap goes to the frame near the switch mounting and the third connector is for the thin white (with black stripe) wire that grounds the ignition as a theft deterrent.

Cheers,
John

It even works when the owner is driving the car!

In the "old days" we rarely went on a Healey tour where somebody's car didn't mysteriously coast to the side of the road.

As I never travel without my clip-leads, we'd just pull the wire off between the coil and distributor, replace it with the clip-lead and be on our way.

 

[Keoke]

The positive cable that should be connected to the shut off switch (round knob looking part in trunk, I assume) is disconnected in my Healey. I can't tell how exactly it was connected to the shut off switch. Can someone tell me how exactly to reconnect it?

This suggests that the Cutoff switch might be defective. Consequently, I suggest you perform the following test prior to attempting to connect the switch back into the circuit. Using an Ohm meter connected between the unused large terminal on the switch and the chassis operate the switch from off to on, the meter should show a dead short when on and a open circuit when off. Use the Highest resistance scale on your meter to perform this test.---Keoke

 

[John Loftus]

Re: How Does Battery Cable Connect to Shut Off Swi

Just received my January issue of the Healey Marque and there is an tech article by Norman Nock on refurbishing and testing the Battery On/Off switch. Too bad Randy's friends didn't have access to this great info back in the 'old days'! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

Cheers,
John

 

[Keoke]

Re: How Does Battery Cable Connect to Shut Off Swi

It even works when the owner is driving the car!----It better Randy!!----Keoke- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif

 

[Randy Forbes]

Re: How Does Battery Cable Connect to Shut Off Swi

It even works when the owner is driving the car!----It better Randy!!----Keoke- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif

Grounding the ignition system isn't particularly desireable when cruising the backroads of the San Francisco Bay area; nobody expects you to slow down in the middle of a corner /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/shocked.gif

 

[Keoke]

Re: How Does Battery Cable Connect to Shut Off Swi

Then it ain't workin Randy!---Keoke-- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

 

[Michael Oritt]

The positive cable that should be connected to the shut off switch (round knob looking part in trunk, I assume) is disconnected in my Healey. I can't tell how exactly it was connected to the shut off switch. Can someone tell me how exactly to reconnect it?

Remove the switch from your car and throw it away--replace it with a NON-LUCAS switch as sold at various marine stores or racing sites (Pegasus, Jegs, etc)and wire your ground cable from whatever is your grounding post to the switch with the other cable going from the switch to the chassis.

 

[John Loftus]

Re: How Does Battery Cable Connect to Shut Off Swi

Remove the switch from your car and throw it away--

Correction .. send them all to me. I'll be happy to take those old miserable Lucas parts. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

Cheers,
John

 

[Randy Forbes]

Re: How Does Battery Cable Connect to Shut Off Swi

Then it ain't workin Randy!---Keoke-- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

The theft deterrent portion of the switch keoke; it even keeps the owners from driving the car. It really works, whether you want it to or not.

Yep, just like wrestling with a pig in the mud...

 

[tahoe healey]

Re: How Does Battery Cable Connect to Shut Off Swi

New replacements are available on Ebay for about $35.00. They look exact but I changed the new knob for the original. They claimed it has been improved with the problems removed. Mine works fine but it is only 18 months old.

 

[Keoke]

Re: How Does Battery Cable Connect to Shut Off Swi

Then it ain't workin Randy!---Keoke-- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

The theft deterrent portion of the switch keoke; it even keeps the owners from driving the car. It really works, whether you want it to or not.

Yep, just like wrestling with a pig in the mud...

OH! thats what you be going on about /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif. Everyone else knows you suppose to disconnect that portion of the switch at the switch.---Keoke-- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif

 

[hundredsixinsf]

Thanks for the advice and photos folks. The switch in my '59 100-6 looks a bit different than the one in Randy Forbe's photos. But I see how it works now. I'll also run that continuity test on it first.

 

[hundredsixinsf]

Thanks for the advice and photos folks. The switch in my '59 100-6 looks a bit different than the one in Randy Forbe's photos. But I see how it works now. I'll also run that continuity test on it first.

 

[zblu]

I have one like John Loftus has posted in the trunk,(its there for originality only-not connected) there is also the same thing available that fits onto the battery post, however I have installed one that has the red plastic key that is removeable (Hella I think)to the inside of the cockpit thereby removing the requirement to get out and open the trunk to turn off or open the batterybox lid to turn off

 

[Lin]

Michael,
What does one do with the white and black ignition wire with the modern switch?

Lin
1960 BT7 in restoration
1959 Bugeye

 

[Randy Forbes]

Michael,
What does one do with the white and black ignition wire with the modern switch?

Lin
1960 BT7 in restoration
1959 Bugeye

I would isolate it so that it cannot short to ground (chassis) or the car will coast to the side of the road...

 

[Michael Oritt]

Michael,
What does one do with the white and black ignition wire with the modern switch?

Lin
1960 BT7 in restoration
1959 Bugeye

Lin--

Most folks just cut it and tape it out of harm's way, but if you buy the switch "with alternator protection" (Pegasus part no. 4450) you can utilize the circuit that "makes" when the key switch is turned to off to ground the coil and provide theft protection.

Best--Michael