[Healeys] FW: Master Switch

Thu Mar 26 13:37:52 MDT 2020

Charlie--

I posted about using a Hella brand switch which is sold by Pegasus racing
amongst others.

People often poo-poo "marine rating" as just a way to charge more for
the same thing with a different label and perhaps this may sometimes be
true.  However there are respected brands, Hella being one of them, that
make high-quality stuff for marine environments and though I have never
disassembled one of their switches neither did I ever have one fail in more
than 30 years on my old boat.  Usually you will find bronze parts versus
brass, 303,304 or 316 stainless versus the cheap Chinese stuff that usually
produces a lot of surface pitting and corrosion, etc and better sealing to
live in a harsh environment.

Best--Michael Oritt

On Thu, Mar 26, 2020 at 2:06 PM Charlie Baldwin <mgcharlie at comcast.net>
wrote:

> There have been a couple of references to marine grade switches.  For us
> landlubbers, does that mean that it holds up to the weather better with
> less chance of internal corrosion? What do these things look like?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Charlie
> On 3/26/2020 11:40 AM, Alex wrote:
>
> *A few years ago I installed a marine-grade switch on my BT7. I bought it
> from West Marine. Fits nicely and works great!*
>
> *== Alex in Maine*
>
> *1960 BT7, 1946 MG-TC*
>
> On 3/26/2020 8:48 AM, Robert Begani wrote:
>
> A Good analysis why the original Healey switch and replacements do not
> work well.  May choose to keep the original in a box and buy a Hella, or
> continue to do with out a switch and use a direct ground to the frame.
>
>
>
> Bob Begani
>
>
>
> *From:* Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net>
> <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> *On Behalf Of *Michael Oritt
> *Sent:* Wednesday, March 25, 2020 5:25 PM
> *To:* Michael Salter <michaelsalter at gmail.com> <michaelsalter at gmail.com>
> *Cc:* Austin Healey <healeys at autox.team.net> <healeys at autox.team.net>
> *Subject:* Re: [Healeys] Master Switch
>
>
>
> For my money (and car) I opted for a high quality marine-grade shutoff
> switch such as that made by Hella and others, sold on the Pegasus site.
>
>
>
> On Wed, Mar 25, 2020 at 4:31 PM Michael Salter <michaelsalter at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> My experience with the original Lucas Master switches has been a little
> different.
>
> Many years ago, after having a newly installed NOS switch fail on my own
> car, I  discovered that it had failed because the ground cable running from
> the switch to the frame was not properly installed.
>
> The full starter current must pass through the switch then through the
> cable to ground. When there is resistance in that cable current passes
> through THE SPRING to then ground through the body of the switch and the
> switch mounting bracket.
>
> This high current rapidly overheats the spring and it looses tension
> ruining the switch.
>
> I have disassembled several of these switches to stretch the spring as
> suggested but often found that the brass of the spring had been totally
> annealed as a result of being overheated because of the current that had
> passed through them.
>
> For my own car (and several others since)  I made a new spring from copper
> coated steel welding wire wich lasted until I sold the car many years
> later.
>
>
>
> M
>
>
>
> On Thu, Mar 26, 2020, 9:00 AM John Spaur, <jmsdarch at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> In my experience with the switches they overheat and the spring collapses.
>
>
>
> Good to know you have the rivets.
>
>
>
> John
>
>
>
> *From:* David Nock [mailto:healeydoc at gmail.com]
> *Sent:* Wednesday, March 25, 2020 7:57 AM
> *To:* John Spaur <jmsdarch at sbcglobal.net>; 'Healeys' <
> healeys at autox.team.net>
> *Subject:* Re: [Healeys] Master Switch
>
>
>
> The number one fault with both the original and the new switch is the
> spring inside looses its tension and you then loose the ground connection.
> We have sourced the correct rivets to restore your original battery switch.
>
>
>
> I have also had to take apart the new switches to make them work
> correctly. Simply drill out the rivets. Stretch out the new spring and
> install new rivets.
>
>
>
>
>
> David Nock
> healeydoc at sbcglobal.net
> 209 948 8767
> www.britishcarspecialists.com
>
> Help us have our Founder Norman Nock inducteed into the
> British Sportscar Hall of Fame, You can vote for your favorites
> by visiting the site at.
> www.britishsportscarhalloffame.org
>
>
>
> *From:* John Spaur
>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, March 24, 2020 9:53 PM
>
> *To:* 'Healeys'
>
> *Subject:* Re: [Healeys] Master Switch
>
>
>
> I have tried to post this to the list several times but it keeps bouncing.
>
>
>
> The internal part in the reproduction switches is plastic, not Bakelite.
> If your engine is hard to start and you crank it too long the plastic part
> melts and the switch is toast. I rebuilt one recently with the proper
> Bakelite part. However, they are not always interchangeable with the newer
> metal case because the metal case is slightly smaller.
>
>
>
> John
>
> ’62 BT7
>
> San Jose, CA
> ------------------------------
>
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