Brake light switch

PostPost by: elanski » Sun Jul 11, 2021 7:12 pm

Hello all.
To get straight to the point: How the hell are people managing to fit the mini style brake light switch (which seem to be the only type available) into the back of the pedal box. Even with bending the connectors out of the way there is not enough room to maneuver it into position.

Does anyone have any advice on how it is done without removing the pedal box, please?

Or know where to buy an original switch?

Thanks
elanski
First Gear
First Gear
 
Posts: 41
Joined: 30 Mar 2011

PostPost by: Bud English » Sun Jul 11, 2021 7:21 pm

If you can't find one over there:
Ray at r.d. enterprises ( http://www.rdent.com/ ) has them. Ref. 36M6154 $9.50
Bud
1970 +2S Fed 0053N
"Winnemucca - says it all really!!"
Bud English
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 1081
Joined: 05 Nov 2011

PostPost by: mbell » Sun Jul 11, 2021 7:24 pm

+2?

I think I removed (filled off?) a little bit of the threaded section which was just enough to get it in the hole and thread it in.
'73 +2 130/5 RHD, now on the road and very slowly rolling though a "restoration"
mbell
Coveted Fifth Gear
Coveted Fifth Gear
 
Posts: 2708
Joined: 07 Jun 2013

PostPost by: mikec2126 » Wed Jul 14, 2021 1:04 pm

IMG_6277.jpg and
I just fitted this one on my +2s 130 the other day - just bent back the terminals, it was a bit tight but went in fine. Don't screw it in to much, it was causing my brakes to lock on as wasnt releasing the pedal enough.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/391824750187
User avatar
mikec2126
New-tral
 
Posts: 11
Joined: 16 Jul 2012

PostPost by: bobchaplin » Wed Jul 14, 2021 1:33 pm

On my Plus 2 (a very early car) which came in about 13 boxes of bits with the sales pitch 'its all there, a complete car!' was it ####. All I had was the pedal box assembly. As I had no brake switch at all, or any reference as to where it went I mounted a motor cycle type pull switch on a small fabricated bracket fitted to the pedal box bolts with a spring attached to the brake pedal fulcrum, Works a treat. Bob
bobchaplin
First Gear
First Gear
 
Posts: 20
Joined: 16 Nov 2017

PostPost by: wotsisname » Wed Jul 14, 2021 6:36 pm

Bob, The early plus 2 uses a pressure switch, mounted in a muliway union in the brake lines. on a RHD car the union is attached to the chassis under the steering column. You may already know this and chose a different method to achieve the same result.
1968 Elan plus 2 - project
2007 Elise S2 [modified with a Hethel 70th sticker (yellow)]
2000 Elise S1 - Sold
wotsisname
Third Gear
Third Gear
 
Posts: 487
Joined: 24 Jun 2015

PostPost by: bobchaplin » Thu Jul 15, 2021 9:17 am

Hi Wotsis, I discovered that after I had made up and fitted all new brake lines, I did find a brake light switch and a mounting plate in one of the boxes. This looked familiar and as I had previously rebuilt a Series Landrover, Thats what the switch and plate was in the box. Presumably cross contamination while the +2 was in bits, some 40 years, I have found a few odd bits, that I cannot identify from the Lotus parts manual. I was not going to disturb all my new brake pipes so I used the motor-cycle pull switch, it works fine and is unobtrusive, tight up against the pedal box. As a tip, when I made up the also missing handbrake rods I used Landrover series clevis's and pins these are spring loaded and will stop the dreaded brake rod rattle. Bob
bobchaplin
First Gear
First Gear
 
Posts: 20
Joined: 16 Nov 2017

PostPost by: wotsisname » Thu Jul 15, 2021 11:19 am

I fully understand having to work it out as you go along.. if you've still got unidentified bits, I bet we all love a quiz.. Adrian
1968 Elan plus 2 - project
2007 Elise S2 [modified with a Hethel 70th sticker (yellow)]
2000 Elise S1 - Sold
wotsisname
Third Gear
Third Gear
 
Posts: 487
Joined: 24 Jun 2015

PostPost by: elanski » Thu Jul 15, 2021 4:39 pm

Thanks guys. Doesn't look like the original smaller, rounder one can be bought anywhere. I will try again, but think I will need the hands of a 9 year old chinese factory worker to get it into place. If not will have to bite the bullet and chop it down a bit but thought I would probably damage the thread doing that and it wouldn't screw in anyway. Let's see what happens.
elanski
First Gear
First Gear
 
Posts: 41
Joined: 30 Mar 2011

PostPost by: Matt Elan » Fri Jul 16, 2021 2:56 pm

Before cutting down the threaded part of the switch run a nut down the threads, cut off the excess then run the nut off and any dodgy threads at the cutoff are restored
Matthew Vale - Classic Motoring Author
1968 Plus 2 - Somewhat cosmetically and mechanically modified
1969 Plus 2S - Currently undergoing nut and bolt restoration
Visit me on matthewvale.com
User avatar
Matt Elan
Fourth Gear
Fourth Gear
 
Posts: 651
Joined: 27 Oct 2011

Total Online:

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 19 guests