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MG MGA - Broken turn indicator switch

While preparing our 1960 1600 for a trip to an MG weekend in Germany in a few weeks, I found a broken contact unit in the Lucas TPS1 turn indicators switch.

Would anyone be able to advise on a source for a replacement contact unit, or have one to sell please?

(I know I can buy new reproduction switch complete, but hope that I can find a contact plate to repair the original Lucas unit.)

Regards
Mike

M D Card

Mike

I don’t know if there any individual parts available.

Someone on the BBS sent me a switch with a broken contact, just like yours. I was going to try to repair the broken contact as an experiment. Unfortunately, as I was drilling out one of the rivets, the drill picked up and spun the contact around, completely destroying it.

It seems that the contacts often break on that bend, so even if you managed to find another faulty switch, it’s likely you wouldn’t get the part that you wanted.
Dave O'Neill 2

Dave

Thanks for your reply. I suppose that these switches have done well to last for 60 years or so. I'll keep looking for a replacement, and have found the Lucas part number for the "Contact Base" (Lucas name), but it might need some luck to find one.

Following your comment, I will see if I can make a repair using a bent reinforcing strip to join the broken parts, but it does not look easy and the life of the repair might be uncertain.

Regards
Mike
M D Card

Think I might have one in the spares draw...I'll let you know
David Brenchley

Sorry , have the base plate but not the spring
David Brenchley

Thank you both Davids.

David B, Thank you for searching your spares drawer.

Dave O’N, Noting your comment that a broken contact in a TPS-1 is not an uncommon fault, I can advise that I could repair the broken contact in my switch.

• Held contact base in (milling/drilling machine) vice and carefully drilled out the rivet using gradually increasing drill diameters, until I could separate and work on the broken copper alloy contact component
• Made thin brass reinforcing strip with two bends, to sit snugly over the outside (spring side) of the broken contact
• Sweated the two broken contact pieces and the brass strip together, using soft solder to keep heat low into the copper alloy and thus retain its hardness
• Difficult to re-rivet the contact and contact spring onto the contact base, so used a small machine screw
• Cleaned and reassembled the unit, and adjusted the pneumatic timing

There must now be a slightly higher force from the contact spring on the repaired side, but this is not detectable when operating the switch.

Mike


M D Card

Mike, I achieved the same result using copper strip and soft solder. Still working after many years.
Barry
Barry Gannon

Barry

It's good to know that your repair has proved reliable. I'll feel confident of mine now.

Funny stuff, this old technology, but it is rugged and has no micro-circuits to get zapped.

Mike
M D Card

This thread was discussed between 18/05/2019 and 23/05/2019

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