[Healeys] Brake light switch

Fri May 21 16:45:32 MDT 2021

That is certainly consistent with the observed behavior of the switches as they age.  And it seems they age much more quickly, presumably due to poor materials and/or construction.  

Bruce Steele

Brea, CA

1960 BN7

From: Michael Oritt [mailto:michael.oritt at gmail.com] 
Sent: Friday, May 21, 2021 3:29 PM
To: Bruce Steele <healeybruce at roadrunner.com>
Cc: Bob Haskell <rchaskell at earthlink.net>; kags at shaw.ca; Austin Healey <Healeys at autox.team.net>; Brian Drab <bgdrab at redzone.ca>
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Brake light switch

I often see cars on the race track with either no or intermittent brake lights, despite the fact that every car is checked for operative lights at tech inspection.  The reason they get thru tech is that the driver invariably stands on the pedal whereas on the track seldom does one exert this kind of force, and I believe the failure mode of pressure switches to be that they slowly lose their sensitivity to pressure as the innards age and harden. 

Best--Michael Oritt

On Fri, May 21, 2021 at 5:16 PM Bruce Steele <healeybruce at roadrunner.com <mailto:healeybruce at roadrunner.com> > wrote:

This is a timely thread, as I was just talking yesterday with the expert panel at Conclave about this issue after I nearly got rear ended in Big Bear because my brake lights are not coming on until the pedal is depressed nearly half way.  Turns out Russ Thompson has converted several cars to a mechanical, pedal actuated switch with a simple bracket attached to the cross member/heater duct.  I will be pursuing this over Memorial Day weekend.

Bruce Steele
Brea, CA
1960 BN7

-----Original Message-----
From: Healeys [mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> ] On Behalf Of Bob Haskell via Healeys
Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2021 5:20 PM
To: Michael Oritt <michael.oritt at gmail.com <mailto:michael.oritt at gmail.com> >; kags at shaw.ca
Cc: Brian Drab <bgdrab at redzone.ca <mailto:bgdrab at redzone.ca> >; Healey List <healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net> >
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Brake light switch

For some reason, "--will" was added to the end of the link Michael gave:

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Accel-181101-Brake-Light-Switch-Pressure-Activated,391417.html

I believe that the non-servo brake light switches (screws terminal or lucar connectors) have a tapered thread, no copper sealing washer required.

Cheers,

Bob Haskell
Austin Healey 3000 BN7/BT7 registrar

On 5/19/21 7:51 PM, Michael Oritt wrote:
> This
> link--https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Accel-181101-Brake-Light-Switch-P
> ressure-Activated,391417.html--will
> <https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Accel-181101-Brake-Light-Switch-Pressu
> re-Activated,391417.html--will> take you to the Speedway site and the 
> Accel brake switch shown is touted to be American-made and useable on 
> Harleys, so perhaps this is what the original poster is looking for.
>
> Best--Michael Oritt
>
>
>
> On Wed, May 19, 2021 at 6:43 PM Earl Kagna via Healeys 
> <healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net>  <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net> >> wrote:
>
>     Hi Brian:
>
>     Yes, there was a problem years ago with brake light switches.  It
>     may have been related to a lot of people switching to silicone
>     brake fluid.
>
>     I don’t recall anything about a Harley switch being compatible,
>     but some of us tried Volkswagen switches that worked well.  I do
>     recall one BJ8 owner here that eventually gave up and installed a
>     micro switch kit from a hotrodder supplier that permanently fixed
>     the problem.
>
>     I have replaced 3 (or maybe 4) brake light switches in the last 2-
>     3 years – all on BJ8’s – including on my own, and on our friend
>     DM’s car, and all seems well.  The word is that the parts now
>     being supplied are better.  These switches came in Interpart boxes
>     and were sourced from Bob Yule at Autofarm in Ontario – they were
>     not particularly expensive.
>
>     Be aware that there are 2 different switches used on the big
>     Healey (6 cyl) up to and including the very early BJ8’s – uses a
>     copper sealing washer – with screw type wire terminals, and the
>     later BJ8 which I believe is a taper thread seal with fast-on
>     terminals.
>
>     I have not seen Roger’s articles that Jean mentioned, but I’ll bet
>     that all pertinent information that is possible will be there -
>     knowing Roger!
>
>     Earl Kagna
>
>     Victoria BC
>
>     BJ8, BT7 tri-carb
>
>     *From:* Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> 
>     <mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> >> *On Behalf Of *Brian Drab
>     via Healeys
>     *Sent:* Tuesday, May 18, 2021 4:00 PM
>     *To:* healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net>  <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net> >
>     *Subject:* [Healeys] Brake light switch
>
>     I recall several years ago that there was a discussion on the poor
>     quality of Healey brake light switches. At that time several
>     people advised that a Harley brake light switch worked and worked
>     better than the original.
>
>     I tried checking the archives but I don’t know how to check by
>     subject rather date – if it can even be done. What I need to know
>     is either the Harley part number or the years and model Harley
>     that the switches are from. Can anyone help.
>
>     Brian Drab
>
>     BJ8
>
>
>     <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient> &utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient>
>       Virus-free. www.avast.com <http://www.avast.com> 
>     
> <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_> &utm_source=link&utm_
> campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient>
>
>
>     <#m_-8535853507729815102_DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>
>     _______________________________________________
>     Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html
>     <http://www.team.net/donate.html>
>     Suggested annual donation  $12.75
>
>     Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys
>     <http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys>
>     http://autox.team.net/archive <http://autox.team.net/archive>
>
>     Healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:Healeys at autox.team.net>  <mailto:Healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:Healeys at autox.team.net> >
>     http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys
>     <http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys>
>
>     Unsubscribe/Manage:
>     http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/michael.oritt@gmail.com
>     
> <http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/michael.oritt@gmail.com
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Best--Michael
>
> _______________________________________________
> Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html Suggested annual 
> donation  $12.75
>
> Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys 
> http://autox.team.net/archive
>
> Healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:Healeys at autox.team.net> 
> http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys
>
> Unsubscribe/Manage: 
> http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/rchaskell@earthlink.net
>

_______________________________________________
Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html Suggested annual donation  $12.75

Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys http://autox.team.net/archive

Healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:Healeys at autox.team.net> 
http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys

Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/healeybruce@roadrunner.com

-- 

Best--Michael

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://autox.team.net/pipermail/healeys/attachments/20210521/44eccc84/attachment.htm>