Headlight switch --- click or slide

[31deluxe]

Should the headlight switch on the steering wheel have a click when changing to high-low or off or is it just a slide into the new position?
( New harness from Brattons)

[Joe K]

Kind of a click is considered optimal.

For a while the disks/brass rivets were insufficiently "cupped" to hold the three fingers of the switch. These are the disks/switch which as you turn the wheel in steering tended to carry the switch along with the wheel.

These reproduction switches didn't last too long. I would say by the mid 90's market dissatisfaction was relayed, and the producers quickly provided plates/brass rivets/wiring harnesses with more of a depression on them.

You want to check your "fingers." This being the brass circle in your switch which circular "pressings" made to match into the brass rivets. The brass circle can be "bent" a small amount between attachments to make the pressings more proud and press closer to the rivets.

This would be for the "three contact" switches of the Twolite system. The "four contact" switches (type H) are not reproduced either switch or plate, and the circular pressings/fingers are supported by only one side and are hence less "adjustable." But the four contact switch/plate has nice "depressions" in the plastic which tend to hold the switch in the selected position.

Comparing the two switch designs...



Be sure of your assembly. There is a spring above the "spyder" which keeps pressure on the switch bulb and keeps the handle from moving around.




Joe K

[31deluxe]

Thanks for your detailed response.

[rotorwrench]

Some of the fixed switch discs have brass dimples that are too deep and make switching very stiff. It can go either way depending on the quality of the reproduction parts.

[jtucker]

Make sure the spider is in the 12 and 6 o'clock positions when you put the switch on...

[Joe K]

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Originally Posted by jtucker

Make sure the spider is in the 12 and 6 o'clock positions when you put the switch on...

And have the switch in the "OFF" position. The steering column handle/knob too.


Joe K

[Y-Blockhead]

Weren't they making the contact part (the black part, I don't know the name) too thick at one point? I seem to remember Bratton's recommending on their online catalog to sand it down to make it thinner??

[rotorwrench]

There were switch connector discs that were too thick and dimples too deep or too shallow so a person should try to compare new parts with any old parts that are known to the owner to function normally. Reproduction parts are hit or miss and always have been for the most part.

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by Y-Blockhead

Weren't they making the contact part (the black part, I don't know the name) too thick at one point? I seem to remember Bratton's recommending on their online catalog to sand it down to make it thinner??

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

There were switch connector discs that were too thick and dimples too deep or too shallow so a person should try to compare new parts with any old parts that are known to the owner to function normally. Reproduction parts are hit or miss and always have been for the most part.

Thank you, that is the word(s) I was looking for.