MGB & GT Forum

Following on from my size question I can't find anything on how the rocker switches ('76 - '80) are backlit. (I never used my rockers before stripping them out). Do you know?

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Mk1: CKD 11/66 first registered 8/5/67; owned since 3/77. 18GB +40 balanced. Peter Burgess BVFR head. Piper 285. 123. FidanzaFW. 4synch c/r box. Lots more as I did a nut and bolt rebuild; finished 2015. Tartan Red.

GT: December '78. VW Golf guards, flush fit front and rear valances. Torana XU1 vents, frenched indicators & Mk1 rear lights. 'Worked' Rover V8 with Monsoon ECU for EFI. GM4L60E, Lokar tiptronic & Quick4 controller. Vintage Air A/C. FC IFS. CCE 4 link rear. Salisbury with Quaife. Jaguar Storm.

The\ switches have a small internal screw-in bulb that illuminates them.

http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/?search_group=&q=170-160



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016-12-09 06:29 AM by Marc2.

Thanks Mark; so those must be #74 in my link but where do those screw into the switches? I have all my AAU series rockers in front of me and I can't see where they'd fit in the switch. Could it be that I need to work out how to separate the two parts of the switch (similar to this and this) and I'll find a bulb inside (and that's why there's a small male spade on either side of the switch)?

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Mk1: CKD 11/66 first registered 8/5/67; owned since 3/77. 18GB +40 balanced. Peter Burgess BVFR head. Piper 285. 123. FidanzaFW. 4synch c/r box. Lots more as I did a nut and bolt rebuild; finished 2015. Tartan Red.

GT: December '78. VW Golf guards, flush fit front and rear valances. Torana XU1 vents, frenched indicators & Mk1 rear lights. 'Worked' Rover V8 with Monsoon ECU for EFI. GM4L60E, Lokar tiptronic & Quick4 controller. Vintage Air A/C. FC IFS. CCE 4 link rear. Salisbury with Quaife. Jaguar Storm.

Barrie,
What happens when you apply 12Vdc to the lucar terminal?

whilst in a dimly lit room.

B

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Life's most persistent and urgent question is, "What are you doing for others?"

Sorry, I missed that you were asking about switches for 'newer that '76. up to '76 the illuminated switches have a plexi panel on the front, held in with side tabs. Just pry out with a small jewelers screwdriver, slide a short piece of vac hose over the bulb, unscrew, and replace. With your newer switches, must be internal - maybe someone here can chime in who has done it. Or may be a design that is not "repairable" just replaceable.

http://www.ebay.com/p/?iid=152268884252&ul_noapp=true,true&chn=ps&lpid=82,82



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016-12-09 08:25 AM by Marc2.

Barrie
Reference the Lucas document I sent you a while ago. It would appear these switches are lit internally as I read.

B

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Life's most persistent and urgent question is, "What are you doing for others?"

Now I've had a chance to read my links in #3 it's easy. From ChicagolandMG "The switch consists of three sections; the rear which contains the contacts, the center which contains the spring-plungers which actuate the switch arm, and holds a bulb which illuminates the hazard label on the rocker, which is the last of the three parts. The rocker removes easily (not necessary for switch repair, but good to know) as it must to replace a burned out bulb. Simply grasp the rocker and pull forward. It should come straight out, although a little prying on the side with a jeweler’s screwdriver helps."

Now to see if I can separate the middle from the rear using Chicagoland's advice.

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Mk1: CKD 11/66 first registered 8/5/67; owned since 3/77. 18GB +40 balanced. Peter Burgess BVFR head. Piper 285. 123. FidanzaFW. 4synch c/r box. Lots more as I did a nut and bolt rebuild; finished 2015. Tartan Red.

GT: December '78. VW Golf guards, flush fit front and rear valances. Torana XU1 vents, frenched indicators & Mk1 rear lights. 'Worked' Rover V8 with Monsoon ECU for EFI. GM4L60E, Lokar tiptronic & Quick4 controller. Vintage Air A/C. FC IFS. CCE 4 link rear. Salisbury with Quaife. Jaguar Storm.

Above I wrote "Now to see if I can separate the middle from the rear using Chicagoland's advice." which is

"The rear section is held to the middle by hooks down the length of both sides of the switch. I used a small screwdriver to pry the two pieces apart"

but I can't see how to do that and I don't want to destroy my switches finding out so has anyone with a '76-'80 ever taken one of their rockers apart able to tell me where these "middle hooks" are?

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Mk1: CKD 11/66 first registered 8/5/67; owned since 3/77. 18GB +40 balanced. Peter Burgess BVFR head. Piper 285. 123. FidanzaFW. 4synch c/r box. Lots more as I did a nut and bolt rebuild; finished 2015. Tartan Red.

GT: December '78. VW Golf guards, flush fit front and rear valances. Torana XU1 vents, frenched indicators & Mk1 rear lights. 'Worked' Rover V8 with Monsoon ECU for EFI. GM4L60E, Lokar tiptronic & Quick4 controller. Vintage Air A/C. FC IFS. CCE 4 link rear. Salisbury with Quaife. Jaguar Storm.

Hi Barrie, i just taken a rocker switch apart out of a 77 midget , there is no bulb in it and nowhere to put one so not all rocker switches light up.
none of my rockers light up and you made me curious enough to take one to pieces to find out

On the 72-76 switches, the MGB USA switches have chrome bezel and an attachment for a bulb. I've noticed that other markets/models have a black bezel, and are not using the bulb attachment.
Maybe B/L and/or Lucas did the same on 77-81 switches. Possibly Midgets have a "no-bulb" model, except in the USA? I'd have to do more research.

If it wasn't clear I'm sorted on the backlit question - you prise off the rocker face and there's the little bulb in there fed by the pair of lucar terminals.

I have moved on to how to separate the middle and rear as I can't see the hooks referred to in Chicagoland's advice. I thought someone with a '76-'80 may have done this. I want to check for verdirgris while I have the opportunity. (Also I may be able to get the middle hydrographically colour changed once I understand their construction.)

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Mk1: CKD 11/66 first registered 8/5/67; owned since 3/77. 18GB +40 balanced. Peter Burgess BVFR head. Piper 285. 123. FidanzaFW. 4synch c/r box. Lots more as I did a nut and bolt rebuild; finished 2015. Tartan Red.

GT: December '78. VW Golf guards, flush fit front and rear valances. Torana XU1 vents, frenched indicators & Mk1 rear lights. 'Worked' Rover V8 with Monsoon ECU for EFI. GM4L60E, Lokar tiptronic & Quick4 controller. Vintage Air A/C. FC IFS. CCE 4 link rear. Salisbury with Quaife. Jaguar Storm.