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Ingenious turn signal fix!

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Basil

Basil

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Well, I was working on my upper steering column preparing it for re-installation on my Etype and discovered that my turn signal switch was broken and they would not cancel automatically because the nylon ring that controls the turn signal cancellation was busted. A new E Type turn signal switch was $260!!! Yikes! Then I found I could buy just the nylon ring that operates the cancellation, but even that was $64! The only thing that was broken off was a small "nub" of nylon, so I got to thinking about how I could solve this without spending so much money. I came up with a neat fix that seems to work perfect and since it is covered when installed, no one will ever see it.

Here are some links to pictures of before and with the fix applied:

Before

Fixed!

Basil

[ 10-06-2003: Message edited by: Basil ]

[ 10-06-2003: Message edited by: Basil ]

[ 10-06-2003: Message edited by: Basil ]</p>
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Dave Russell:
????????????????
D<hr></blockquote>

I don't understand? What don't you get?

confused.gif
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Basil:


I don't understand? What don't you get?

confused.gif
<hr></blockquote>

I can't believe that you would do that. How much did you spend on shocks?
D
 
Basil
It is amazing what some people can dream up.This must of come to you in one of those rare moments when you weren't even thinking about it.
What keeps in it place is my question?I don't think friction alone is enough to do the job.
Otherwisw way to go as I like your thinking.
canpatriot.gif
and evry day is sunny.
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Dave Russell:


I can't believe that you would do that. How much did you spend on shocks?
D<hr></blockquote>

Yeah, but shocks are, well, shocks. They are seen when the car is shown. This was just a stupid little piece of plastic that only serves to cancel a turn signal and since it is covered when installed, noone will be able to tell. Since it works at least as good and maybe better than original, why not fix it with a 5 cent tie-wrap and use the money towards a new chrome wire wheel.

By the way, I now sell EType turn signal cancel repair kits - just $32.95
grin.gif



Basil
 
Oh come on Dave! The reason he has all that money to spend on shocks is due to all these other "creative, money-saving" repairs!
Basil: That is a much classier repair than I would have done.
My Spridget-racer is still *just* street legal and the Lucas turn signal switch fell apart in similar fashion.
My "repair" was two toggle switches. Left "up"=left turn. Right "up"= right turn. Both "up"= 4-way flashers.
Signal cancellation on my car requires an alert driver. It cost about $5.00 to build.
I guess I would lose a few points in a concourse event!
Anyway, I've seen worse....Many years ago, my dear old Dad had an old bomber car that he drove to work. One day the headlight switch went up in flames and he needed a quick replacement. He dug through his "junk-box" and found a house-type wall switch (110 volt AC). He duct-taped it to the dash and hooked it up. Worked fine and he drove it like that for about 6 months. We still kid him about it.
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by thegoodbeamer:
What keeps in it place is my question?I don't think friction alone is enough to do the job.
<hr></blockquote>

Actually the tie wrap is tight enoght so that it doesn't slip at all (plus what's left of the original nub sort of acts as a stopper.
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Dave Russell:
Hi Bas,
You are approaching a touchy subject with me. Obviously there are others who won't agree with me.

Far too many people have purchased "restored" cars only to find that the cosmetics were the only part that was done right. To their chagrin, they found that under the surface the car was full of ingenious "cheap" fixes that "none will be able to tell" [/qb]<hr></blockquote>

I tend to agree with you "for the most part" and in general I don't take short cuts. For example, I spent about $7000 getting the body (which thankfully was rust free) and paint work done. I have replaced the entire wire harness with fresh, original specification wiring, I am having all of my instruments professionally cleaned and rebuilt, the engine was rebuilt to factory specs sparing no expense, including 6 new pistons and all new valves (I plan to re-do all of the seals and gaskets before I install it because it has been sitting for too long in my opinion), my IRS has been completely and properly rebuilt to include the best shocks money can buy. I plan to drop in a factory correct interior into the car (including Connoly hides). I short, there will be darned little on this car that isn't top-notch. It won't be concourse, but that's not what I'm shooting for. I am building this car for "me" and plan to keep it until I die, at which time I will pass it on to one of my sons. So I guess I'm not too worried if some day someone else owns the car and discovers this one cheap fix. Of course if it turns out that this fix doesn't hold up as well as I think it will, I can always resort to buying the part (which I may do down the road anyway, but have more pressing things to spend the $$ on at the moment.

Cheers,
Basil

[ 10-07-2003: Message edited by: Basil ]</p>
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Dave Russell:
Bas,
OK
I said that it was a touchy subject with me. Forgive the rant if it doesn't apply.
D<hr></blockquote>


If it makes you feel better, I have a line on a Series II turn sig switch and if I can get it at a reasonable price I will probably buy it and canibalize it for the nylon ring (which I think are the same between the two series.)
tongue.gif
 
---------------------------------------------
"Yeah, but shocks are, well, shocks. They are seen when the car is shown. This was just a stupid little piece of plastic that only serves to cancel a turn signal and since it is covered when installed, none will be able to tell. Since it works at least as good and maybe better than original, why not fix it with a 5 cent tie-wrap and use the money towards a new chrome wire wheel. "
------------------------------------------
Hi Bas,
You are approaching a touchy subject with me. Obviously there are others who won't agree with me.

Far too many people have purchased "restored" cars only to find that the cosmetics were the only part that was done right. To their chagrin, they found that under the surface the car was full of ingenious "cheap" fixes that "none will be able to tell" & that didn't work or failed soon after they drove the car for a while. Then they spent thousands more dollars to do it right.

I know of a couple of folks on this board & several in my local club who bought "SG" restored cars which were just as described. None of them were happy.

If the turn signal quits working & I investigate to find a Tyrap instead of a $64 part I immediately start to wonder what else has been compromised to save money. Restored "should" mean that everything has been really restored, not just quick fixed. The higher dollar the car, the more I would expect everything to be perfect. Not always the case, I guess. "Creative, money saving repairs" are one thing on a daily driver Spridget, something entirely different on a classic Jag. So you saved $63.95 . If I were to end up with the car I would rather you had done it right & saved me the grief of having to tear everything apart to fix it again.

In this specific case we could argue that the "fix" is as good or better than the original, but we don't really know yet, do we?
D
 
with the electrical parts we are getting today, I'd bet Basil's fix is better than anything short of a NOS piece and that might be hard to find
 
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