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Tips

T-Series Switch rebuild

LLAngus

Jedi Knight
Offline
Is there a site that tells how to take apart and clean dash switches such as the head lightswitch. I have to wiggle mine back and forth to get it to go on. Once on I only have low beams and no high. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cowboy.gif
 
Why not take the easy route first? Shoot the switch with TV tuner cleaner. Fifty fifty chance it will cure the problem. Bob
 
LLAngus,

I personally wouldn't advise messing with the switch that controls your headlights. Pay the cash for a new one, and recall that OE switch life is another one of the advantages of relaying your headlamps /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif. While you're at it, better give the rest of the headlamp wiring a bit of a going over for safety's sake!

SoS
 
Though SoS is right from a safety/reliability standpoint, I gotta say: I've disassembled/repaired many of those rocker switches with success... even to the point of making up new slider contacts, but it was PURELY as a stopgap measure (no spare in inventory).

Relays are a pain to integrate neatly, but will greatly extend the life of the rocker switches. I'm currently toying with the idea of installing relays in our '65 B just to give the already old toggle switches a bit of relief and hopefully extend their lifespan.
 
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/iagree.gif
Although I've rebuilt a lot of switches (33k pad switches to itty bitty micro's) you have to have understand basic electricty and have good skills with small parts.
I have rebuilt most of the switches in the 77 & 80 B's but I have ended up replacing some of them shortly afterwards with NOS or reliable replacements. Some for purely for looks but I've had a few that just had a death wish.
I also rewire the harness for headlight relays and I run additional circuits for new devices (CD player,more lights & gizmos).
I wire something every day at work and a LBC has very few wires or connectors compaired to industrial controls so it's actually a break since I don't have to change the program like at work. ( Yes I do have to and can with modern cars but I've been playing with car computers since my 1969 VW type III with the analog computer control on the suitcase 1500cc)
 
Yes, if you have time and really like tinkering, you can rebuild. But light switches don't cost that much. Just replaced mine and am happy I did.LOL /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif
 
You get what you pay for!!!
If you buy the cheap switches you'll be buying more along with a wiring harness,tow bill, and melted dash parts.
Make sure you buy quality electrical parts only.
 
Just found my old can of contact point cleaner. Wish I had a can of tuno wash (from my electronic days). I am going to try to clean my switch today and see if I can get it working for a little while until my order comes in. Has any one wired a switch into the fuel pump circuit to use the accessary on the key switch without the pump running?
 
LLAngus - While I haven't put a switch into the fuel pump circuit specifically to have the accessary switch on without the pump running, I did wire a single pole, double throw, center off switch between a permenently installed back up pump and the primary pump so that, not only could I switch between the pumps, but would also have a cheap and dirty anti-theft device wired in. Cheers - Dave
 
Did you interupt the white wire going to the fuse block? My 73 manual shows that this is the wire to the fuel pump. I need to have the accessary on to check for various circuits to repair (car sat for two years) and to put in things like my stereo. I had a great experience yesterday, the breaks went out half way through the day and I limped home. No fluid around the wheels so I will go into the master cyl as soon as I can get the screws off the cover.
 
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