30 replies to this topic

[smurfomatic]

I have bought a GAE131 and it came as one of these - the "ball" is the full width of the base on this one, compared to the old one having a flat area and a smaller diameter ball in the middle (if you see what I mean)

 

 

The old one is labelled 39889, tried to find even NOS of these and so far found one website in Japan and one in Canada!

[dklawson]

The picture of GAE131 on the MS web site is very different from what you show above.  

 

The picture you used came from Rimmer Brothers.  They actually list the GAE131 as replaced by BAU1074A which is listed as I mentioned... for all sorts of overdrive and gearbox applications on Triumphs.  The BAU1074A does indeed have a large ball for the switch actuator.

 

I would report the mistake to whomever you bought the switch from.  Checking the net, it looks like all the pictures of GAE131 show a large ball (now) while pictures of all the new-old-stock switches (such as those you may have seen in Japan) have the correct small diameter actuator.  The suppliers need to know the switch they are selling is not correct.  Feel free to send them the picture/sketch I made. 

[smurfomatic]

Doug - everywhere that had GAE131 in stock had them as the Rimmer picture shows. It came packaged and labelled as such. Seems the "old" version is only available as NOS. Annoyingly there's one on eBay in Canada but the chap won't ship to the UK - in fact he won't even accept questions from a UK account!

[dklawson]

It's a shame that the switch is "sealed" the way it is, being crimped together.  If you were able to remove the rear halve of the switch to access the actuator you could either turn the plunger on a lathe or file down the plunger so it would fit inside the spring.

 

I will have to give this additional thought.  I may write Mini Spares about the situation since what is being sold as a reverse light switch for Mk1/2 cars cannot be used.

[smurfomatic]

I might tackle the ball end of the switch with a Dremel to see if I can re-shape it to a similar layout as the old switch. Think I'm still going to need to shorten the spring a bit though, I have a new one arriving from Minispares soon so will hopefully have a go over the weekend.

[dklawson]

I expect the next problem you will have is that the "hole" in the end of the new switch body will be larger than the OD of the spring.  Once you re-shape the switch plunger so it has a smaller diameter, I expect that will allow the spring to push back into the switch body instead of coming to rest on its face.  That's a problem as it would potentially reduce the force on the reverse detent plunger.  

 

I wish I had better suggestions to offer. 

[winabbey]

Out of interest, here's the BMC Australia engineering drawings for the Lucas 34887 switch and the plunger that were first used on the Police specification Cooper S's here in Australia. Even the humble plunger, basically a short length of steel rod, needed to be fully documented.

 

P.S. The letter Y in the part number prefix indicates this is an Australian part. 

 

Attached Files

•  AYA9155 Plunger Reverse Light Switch wm.jpg   65.88K   31 downloads
•  AYB9194 Reversing Light Switch.jpg   69.1K   33 downloads

[winabbey]

This one sold recently, so the correct switch is available if you look hard.

 

http://www.ebay.it/i...BgAAOSwiYFXLHR~

[The Principal]

SC Parts are showing them available - http://www.scparts.c...h-1-102323.html

[dklawson]

Winabbey, that's a great set of pictures you posted.  The plunger diameter on your drawing is different than on mine but both will pass into the center of the spring without issue so both would work.  

 

Principal, how do you know that the switch you linked to is the one needed here?  I didn't see a picture of the switch, application notes, or a recognizable industry part number.

 

I contacted Mini Spares.  They said they haven't stocked or sold any of the GAE131 switches since 2011.  They went on to say that they are aware that some firms are selling the "wrong" switch.

 

For now I think we are relegated to using NOS switches when they become available and good used parts from ADO16 donors.

 

EDIT:  Smurfomatic, before you start cutting down the plunger diameter of the switch you bought... can you measure its original plunger diameter and how far out of the switch body it extends?  Thanks !

Edited by dklawson, 24 May 2016 - 12:38 PM.

[smurfomatic]

I will get some measurements from it at the weekend, and let you know.

[The Principal]

 

Here's a pic from the SC Parts catalogue, listed as per the PDF. SC Parts don't list actual part numbers they use their own internal references - item 44 - give them a call to double check

Attached Files

•  www.scparts.co.uk_pdf_507964.pdf   74.56K   51 downloads

Edited by The Principal, 24 May 2016 - 07:01 PM.

[dklawson]

The picture link didn't work but the PDF is great.  What a nice CAD drawing !  Thanks for posting it.

 

EDIT:  Odd....  The picture in The Principal's post shows up at work but not at home.  The picture shows a large diameter plunger on the switch.  If it is as large as shown (and not a stock photo of a comparable part), the SC switch probably won't work with the standard spring either.  The spring has an inside diameter close to 5mm and the "new" GAE131 switches appear to have plungers larger in diameter than that.

Edited by dklawson, 25 May 2016 - 11:45 AM.

[62S]

Smurfomatic you have a PM.

[smurfomatic]

Right, up and running again!

 

 

Smurfomatic, before you start cutting down the plunger diameter of the switch you bought... can you measure its original plunger diameter and how far out of the switch body it extends?  Thanks !

 

The ball on the plunger was 5/16" diameter and was a hemisphere so extended 5/32" out of the body.

 

After grinding the end to resemble the old plunger, and trimming the spring slightly to fit (glad I bought a spare from Minispares as I trimmed the original one too much!) it's working perfectly.