- Joined
- Dec 3, 2018
- Points
- 89
- Location
- The English Riviera - Torquay
- Model of Z
- 2.2 sport Individual Estoril
Got a phone call from SWMBO, 'the roof won't come down, what do I twiddle in the boot to isolate the motor and do it by hand? I told her.
Later when I got home from work, I had a look to see what's what, normally she is very good at her pre flight checks, but this time she missed it! No brake lights, checked fuses & bulbs, ok, it must be the switch.
New switch not coming 'till Mon or Tues, my usual local factors don't have one. SWMBO is distraught to have 'The Broomstick' grounded for that long.
Sooo, I got the switch out, what a weird (but very secure) fitting, You have to push the red tube down the operating button, while holding the brake pedal down, then pressing the stiff barb on each side in, while still holding the pedal down, to release the switch, a bit like playing twister.
I decided to pull the switch apart to see if I could do something to keep her on the road 'till the new one arrived, nothing to lose! It split easily with my trusty penknife, I was expecting Zebedee's kids coming out to play when I opened it, but it was ok, it is dead straight forward inside, just some bronze hairpin type springs with a couple of bronze plates pushed together with the button out, released with the button in.
What happened was! one of the hairpin springs is showing signs of heat and had distorted a bit, and one of the plates was dislodged, I straightened it out, refit the plate, and re-assembled it.
IT WORKS, all refitted and as good as it can be for 20 years old, it will save me a lot of earache until the new one arrives, It will change a lot easier now I have had a practice run.
Later when I got home from work, I had a look to see what's what, normally she is very good at her pre flight checks, but this time she missed it! No brake lights, checked fuses & bulbs, ok, it must be the switch.
New switch not coming 'till Mon or Tues, my usual local factors don't have one. SWMBO is distraught to have 'The Broomstick' grounded for that long.
Sooo, I got the switch out, what a weird (but very secure) fitting, You have to push the red tube down the operating button, while holding the brake pedal down, then pressing the stiff barb on each side in, while still holding the pedal down, to release the switch, a bit like playing twister.
I decided to pull the switch apart to see if I could do something to keep her on the road 'till the new one arrived, nothing to lose! It split easily with my trusty penknife, I was expecting Zebedee's kids coming out to play when I opened it, but it was ok, it is dead straight forward inside, just some bronze hairpin type springs with a couple of bronze plates pushed together with the button out, released with the button in.
What happened was! one of the hairpin springs is showing signs of heat and had distorted a bit, and one of the plates was dislodged, I straightened it out, refit the plate, and re-assembled it.
IT WORKS, all refitted and as good as it can be for 20 years old, it will save me a lot of earache until the new one arrives, It will change a lot easier now I have had a practice run.