Repro Starter Switch?

[Tom Wesenberg]

Yesterday while getting together for a club tour, one of the starter switches failed. The fiber block between the push rod and contact strap must have fallen apart and the rod shorted to the heavy copper strap. The switch got very hot until I grabbed the rod and lifted it up until the owner flipped his master switch. It only took me a few minutes to replace the switch and we were on the way again, but the repro switch, made by Vintique, is very hard to push. I thought the usual complaint with a repro switch was they were too easy to push and sometimes the contacts would stick closed.

[Joe K]

Good recommendation for a master switch!

Joe K

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

When adding a push button solenoid to Minerva, I bent the starter switch copper strip to maintain contact with the copper button on the starter.
I left the starter rod, etc intact, just in "CASE" the contact ever failed, I could just "STOMP" on the starter button while pushin' the push button! Chief used to place a carefully carved piece of wood above the copper strip, "JUST IN CASE"
Bill W.

[dmaxweb]

Repro stater switches are not well made. Find a good original.

[Skipstaxidermy]

You might change to a solenoid and a push button-- much more reliable! Skip

[Tom Wesenberg]

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Originally Posted by Skipstaxidermy

You might change to a solenoid and a push button-- much more reliable! Skip

It's on my friend's car, but I would not change to a solenoid, as the original switch works fine.

BTW, through the years I've had to replace several Ford starter relays and many GM starter solenoids.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

BTW, through the years I've had to replace several Ford starter relays and many GM starter solenoids.

YEP! Tom, stuff wears out, just like US. I enjoyed the solenoid mounted under the hood of Minerva as it had the handy push button on the bottom of it. I also wired a hidden toggle under the hood for a QUICK shut down.
In the '50's w used the GM solenoid for trunk & door lock releases. Just welded a little "L" shaped rod on it, so the plunger didn't fall out! We used "hidden" micro-switches to operate them. When you opened the trunk or a door, you could hear that "THUNK"! for 2 blocks!!
TIP # 219: A micro-switch installed on a remote accessory starter cord, allows for a precise amount of engine rotation when lookin' for timing marks, etc. (Not on Model A though, unless you have a push button solenoid set up.) Bill W.