Stop Light Switch

[Gene Gillam]

Listers, I just posted a sketch I found in the March/April 1969 issue of the Sacred Octagon (eBay win) that looks like a great way to fix the stop light switch on the TC. The verbiage reads as follows: ********* Updating your TC's Stop Light Switch From the TC Motoring Guild via #703 Earl Sargent One built-in problem in our TC's has been the rather primitive method of actuating the stop light switch.. This is understandable because the cars as built for England apparently had no legal requirement for a device of this nature. The result was that on the cars for the American market a haywire (literally), make-do method was employed to attach the stop light switch to the brake pedal since it was not built in. A sure fire answer to this problem has been worked out by MG Wizard Mike Goodman #743. It is really a simple installation and it is a worthwhile addition when (or even before) you next overhaul your master cylinder. The details of the installation are sketched below (Note: I posted this sketch on the Yahoo Groups website so you wouldn't have to download it - if you want a copy I'll email it to you individually - contact me individually). What is shown in the sketch is that the banjo bolt at the rear of the master cylinder has been drilled and tapped and a regular brake light pressure switch has been installed. ********* Do any of the current members have this modification made? And if so, is it reliable? Oh, and I only copied what was written - I'm not sure that statement about the cars in England not having a requirement for brake lights is entirely correct. Gene Gillam 49 MG TC Saucier, MS --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.343 / Virus Database: 190 - Release Date: 3/22/2002

[Chip Old]

On Wed, 3 Apr 2002, Gene Gillam wrote to mg-tabc List:

> Oh, and I only copied what was written - I'm not sure that statement > about the cars in England not having a requirement for brake lights is > entirely correct.

It isn't correct. All TCs - Home Model and Export - had the same brake light switch. I can't get at the pictures - for some reason Yahoo has decided once again to dislike my password. If it involves drilling and tapping the banjo bolt and installing a hydraulic switch, it's a fairly common modification. -- Chip Old 1948 M.G. TC TC6710 XPAG7430 NEMGTR #2271 Cub Hill, Maryland 1962 Triumph TR4 CT3154LO CT3479E fold@bcpl.net

[Dave & Diana Dwyer]

Gene

Certainly my 1946 TC in England had a brake light switch and I believe that this was standard for all, prewar as well.

However the problem I found was that it required ##movement##, so the better the brakes were adjusted the more difficult it was to get the switch working when required.

I'm sure a pressure switch is much better.

Regards

Dave Dwyer

J2, TA, TC

[Paul Camp]

Gene My TC has the pressure switch on the rear of the MC and it works perfectly Paul TC 3348

----- Original Message ----- [b]From:[/b] anngene@bellsouth.net [b]To:[/b] mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com [b]Sent:[/b] Thursday, April 04, 2002 2:20 AM [b]Subject:[/b] [mg-tabc] Stop Light Switch Listers, I just posted a sketch I found in the March/April 1969 issue of the Sacred Octagon (eBay win) that looks like a great way to fix the stop light switch on the TC. The verbiage reads as follows: ********* Updating your TC's Stop Light Switch From the TC Motoring Guild via #703 Earl Sargent One built-in problem in our TC's has been the rather primitive method of actuating the stop light switch.. This is understandable because the cars as built for England apparently had no legal requirement for a device of this nature. The result was that on the cars for the American market a haywire (literally), make-do method was employed to attach the stop light switch to the brake pedal since it was not built in. A sure fire answer to this problem has been worked out by MG Wizard Mike Goodman #743. It is really a simple installation and it is a worthwhile addition when (or even before) you next overhaul your master cylinder. The details of the installation are sketched below (Note: I posted this sketch on the Yahoo Groups website so you wouldn't have to download it - if you want a copy I'll email it to you individually - contact me individually). What is shown in the sketch is that the banjo bolt at the rear of the master cylinder has been drilled and tapped and a regular brake light pressure switch has been installed. ********* Do any of the current members have this modification made? And if so, is it reliable? Oh, and I only copied what was written - I'm not sure that statement about the cars in England not having a requirement for brake lights is entirely correct. Gene Gillam 49 MG TC Saucier, MS --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.343 / Virus Database: 190 - Release Date: 3/22/2002 Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

[Paul Camp]

Gene Having now inspected my setup on the TCs MC last evening.The banjo bolt at the rear of the extended arm has been drilled and tapped and the stop light switch is screwed in . It has two lucar connectors for the electrics. Looking up stop light switches in Holdens Catalogue(www. holden.co.uk) part no 31882 or part no 35692 appears similar they have 1/4 X 18npt threads. The PO also fitted a secondary rear light plus stop light behind the spare wheels, this gives me added security for night driving Not for the purists!! sorry cant be more helpful! Paul TC 3348

----- Original Message ----- From: "Gene Gillam" anngene@bellsouth.net> To: PCamp@pearsons-enfield.co.uk> Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2002 4:05 PM Subject: Re: Re: [mg-tabc] Stop Light Switch > Paul, > > Thanks! Do you know what type of switch was used on yours? The sketch shows a VW type but no part numbers. > > Gene > >

[Jeff & Merryl Redman]

G'day Gene, I reluctantly modified the brake light switch of my Tickford. This was made necessary due to the brake light operating every time the clutch pedal was depressed. The fault being the rubber fume excluder, which lacking flexibility, caused the brake pedal to move each time the clutch was operated. Damned annoying for those following. Method used was existing banjo bolt through 3-way banjo, into which was screwed a pressure switch. Original mechanical abomination/springs/ dummy wiring was retained for appearance. Almost invisible modification. Regards Jeff TA2828

----- Original Message ----- [b]From:[/b] anngene@bellsouth.net [b]To:[/b] mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com [b]Sent:[/b] Thursday, April 04, 2002 11:20 AM [b]Subject:[/b] [mg-tabc] Stop Light Switch Listers, I just posted a sketch I found in the March/April 1969 issue of the Sacred Octagon (eBay win) that looks like a great way to fix the stop light switch on the TC. The verbiage reads as follows: ********* Updating your TC's Stop Light Switch From the TC Motoring Guild via #703 Earl Sargent One built-in problem in our TC's has been the rather primitive method of actuating the stop light switch.. This is understandable because the cars as built for England apparently had no legal requirement for a device of this nature. The result was that on the cars for the American market a haywire (literally), make-do method was employed to attach the stop light switch to the brake pedal since it was not built in. A sure fire answer to this problem has been worked out by MG Wizard Mike Goodman #743. It is really a simple installation and it is a worthwhile addition when (or even before) you next overhaul your master cylinder. The details of the installation are sketched below (Note: I posted this sketch on the Yahoo Groups website so you wouldn't have to download it - if you want a copy I'll email it to you individually - contact me individually). What is shown in the sketch is that the banjo bolt at the rear of the master cylinder has been drilled and tapped and a regular brake light pressure switch has been installed. ********* Do any of the current members have this modification made? And if so, is it reliable? Oh, and I only copied what was written - I'm not sure that statement about the cars in England not having a requirement for brake lights is entirely correct. Gene Gillam 49 MG TC Saucier, MS --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.343 / Virus Database: 190 - Release Date: 3/22/2002 Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

[Charles Hill]

Walter has a good point. My Porsche has a mechanical switch. A couple of other points to consider: If a hydraulic switch leaks or goes bad, you will have to open the lines to put on the new switch and bleed the system. If your mechanical switch goes bad, just unbolt it and bolt on a new one. A mechanically operated switch can be adjusted to activate almost as soon as the pedal starts to move. A hydraulic switch will not activate until a preset pressure is reached. So, with a mechanical switch, you can give a following driver a few more miliseconds to react when you step on the brakes. BTW, does anyone know the operating pressure of a TC brake system? It might be useful to know when selecting a hydraulic switch. I suspect that they are all set to work at a fairly low pressure, but I don't know. Something to check out before making the mod. With my luck, I would probably find the only switch available that operates at a pressure unobtainable by a TC hydraulic system. Not a good thing! Regards, Charles Hill

[Ray]

All hydraulic auto braking systems operate at about the same line pressures. Best, Ray

----- Original Message ----- From: "Charles Hill" candahill@worldnet.att.net> To: "tabc-list" mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Sunday, April 07, 2002 12:25 PM Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] stop light switch > Walter has a good point. My Porsche has a mechanical switch. > > A couple of other points to consider: > > If a hydraulic switch leaks or goes bad, you will have to open the lines > to put on the new switch and bleed the system. If your mechanical > switch goes bad, just unbolt it and bolt on a new one. > > A mechanically operated switch can be adjusted to activate almost as > soon as the pedal starts to move. A hydraulic switch will not activate > until a preset pressure is reached. So, with a mechanical switch, you > can give a following driver a few more miliseconds to react when you > step on the brakes. > > BTW, does anyone know the operating pressure of a TC brake system? It > might be useful to know when selecting a hydraulic switch. I suspect > that they are all set to work at a fairly low pressure, but I don't > know. Something to check out before making the mod. With my luck, I > would probably find the only switch available that operates at a > pressure unobtainable by a TC hydraulic system. Not a good thing! > > Regards, > Charles Hill > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > >