Clutch safety switch options

[Ronbo]

Bill you have both switches in series which requires clutch in and shifter nuetral.

If either of the reported problems occurs the opposing switch acts as a failsafe. I've been a Electronics tech for over 25yrs. I'm well aware how a switch works.

I don't need to hear from anyone claiming it's "useless" that already tells me enough about you.

[mr0077]

Careful, Ron, you may fall off your soapbox...be sure not to speed in that new car, that new car that is so "neighborly", with its eco-friendly fuel economy...you might want to get some super-quiet mufflers so it won't cause noise pollution too, and maybe some airbags.
Seriously, if the lack of a clutch safety switch bothers you so much, I'm wondering why you're getting a Cobra: it's as much an un-neighborly and in-your-face machine as any car ever made. No offense intended, I just think going five or ten under the speed limit, or simply parking your car is a more neighborly or considerate thing to do than having a clutch interlock. Recommending that everyone get automatic transmissions with shifter interlocks and steering wheel column locks in their Cobras would be a more neighborly and safer thing to do too...but it ain't gonna happen.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by mr0077

... that new car that is so "neighborly", with its eco-friendly fuel economy...

... but it is a hybrid of sorts; it burns both gas and rubber, right?

[Burgs]

Originally Posted by Ronbo

They safe guard against not only operator mistakes but some mechanical failures as well.

TKO's have been reported here sticking in gear, clutch master cylinders failing.

Now here is a reason NOT to have the neutral safety switch hooked up. Clutch master fails,... no need for a flatbed. Start it in gear from the stop sign/light, rev match your shifts, and make sure you're in neutral when you stop. Kill the motor, and start in gear to get going again. It IS a very slow, controlled leave from a stop. It will also allow you to move your car from the RR tracks, the middle of an intersection, or some other undesirable location, when you can't get the motor going again, and you don't have time to wait around for Barney.

I'm not sure I see how the switch helps with the stuck gear thing,...? Seems like that would be better w/o the switch.

I will NOT let anybody that I want to keep alive, drive this car, regardless of the extensive safety equipment it has!

[Ronbo]

As far as the stuck gear, I've seen posts where the cars were parked in gear and stuck there. Evedently the selector rods get hung.

There will always be stories of how this or that happened and thank god I wasn't wearing my seat belt or a helmet on my motorcycle. I've heard lots of these over the years.

I also know the difference between a hot rod and a timebomb. The biggest saftey factor is the person behind the wheel, assuming you never make a mistake or that someone is "just a moron".

There are people that will wire the guard back on their saw no matter who tells them it's a bad idea. Some of them no doubt feel that if you need it your an idiot.

I'm done pi**ing now, I appreciate the "open mindedness".

[Burgs]

Originally Posted by Ronbo

As far as the stuck gear, I've seen posts where the cars were parked in gear and stuck there. Evedently the selector rods get hung.

Right, I know that, but the neutral switch would prevent you from limping your way home. This is a "why not to" answer, that's all.

The helmets, belts, saws, morons, and pi55ing,...

[Cobrabill]

Originally Posted by Ronbo

Bill you have both switches in series which requires clutch in and shifter nuetral.

If either of the reported problems occurs the opposing switch acts as a failsafe. I've been a Electronics tech for over 25yrs. I'm well aware how a switch works.

I don't need to hear from anyone claiming it's "useless" that already tells me enough about you.

You said:"TKO's have been reported here sticking in gear, clutch master cylinders failing."

If the master fails,even with the clutch depressed,the car still goes foward.Switch or no switch.

If the TKO sticks in gear and you depressed the clutch,switch or no switch nothing happens.
Your comments are completely non-sequitur.

You might know switches but as shown by your comments above,you don't know Jack Schit about the rest of the car.

So...you've been a tech for 25 years.That's nice.I started working on cars 16 years before you touched a diode.

Using your logic,i know just as much as Shelby,Superformance,Kirkham,FFR,Hi-Tech,Hurricane,BB,Backdraft and the rest,'cause none of them use them.So i guess i'm in good company.Thanks for the compliment.

Stupid little items like the switch weren't installed because they were needed or it was a good idea,they were installed because some MORON did something stupid and sued the company.

BTW-I'm sure there is a Volvo dealer listed in your Yellow pages.

[Ronbo]

"Right, I know that, but the neutral switch would prevent you from limping your way home."

Yes this was brought up early on and I can see the value in that. I respoded by saying that you could wire a momentary contact switch across the interlocks next to the starter switch for use in such cases.

As far as saftey concerns making me a pu$$y, well I've been called worse. A convertable with extremely high HP/weight ratio will never be "safe". However tossing aside things you can do because "the car can kill me anyway!" or "I'm the best driver in the world!" isn't a great frame of mind either.

Bill read what I said "both switches in series" your thinking parallel.

[Cobrabill]

Answer the question:If the switch idea is so great,how come not a single Cobra,from any manufacturer EVER came with one?
This is akin to the "depress brake before shifting from park".Completely useless..except if you're a moron.

[Venamm]

Might put one in. I do know up here in the northern climates remote starters on our daily drivers are common and could you imaging starting you car from your bedroom window and watching your car lunge forward. So they are a must with remote starters.

As for the earlier posts above about "stalling"..??? am I confused or does this word mean more then one thing? If I stall at a light,...I simply fire it up again. Whats this get out and push and use my starter as a second motor stuff?

[Danr55]

Venamm, I'm still having trouble with the picture of starting the Cobra from the bedroom. Somehow, that just doesn't work.

[Cobrabill]

Originally Posted by Venamm

Might put one in. I do know up here in the northern climates remote starters on our daily drivers are common and could you imaging starting you car from your bedroom window and watching your car lunge forward. So they are a must with remote starters.

As for the earlier posts above about "stalling"..??? am I confused or does this word mean more then one thing? If I stall at a light,...I simply fire it up again. Whats this get out and push and use my starter as a second motor stuff?

Assume you are at a light and you run out of fuel.Leave the car in 1st gear and crank the starter.It (your car)will creep out of the intersection.

As for remote starters,they generally do not come on stick cars.That aside, why would you light up your Cobra w/o looking at the guages when it starts

[slithering]

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[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Cobrabill

Assume you are at a light and you run out of fuel.Leave the car in 1st gear and crank the starter.It (your car)will creep out of the intersection.

C'mon, these cars only weigh 2500lbs -- you can push them and steer them at the same time. You guys really want to power your car via the starter motor?!? Changing it out is a PITA.

[RON N BKFLD]

Slithering,,,,,,,,thank you, thank you. someone finally telling the truth about safety switches..........Ron

[RON N BKFLD]

remove the safety switches, then it will only weigh 2100 pounds........Ron

[Burgs]

Originally Posted by patrickt

C'mon, these cars only weigh 2500lbs -- you can push them and steer them at the same time. You guys really want to power your car via the starter motor?!? Changing it out is a PITA.

No I don't want to, but alone, with a slight curb, or some other uphill obstacle, and I really need to get out of the way, yes I will, and have. Try pushing alone over a curb w/o a running start. I can't, I've tried. You may be strong enough, but if you do find yourself in that position, it does work well, and it seems my high torque starter made easy work of it. If anything I think the Red Top would give out before the the starter.

Originally Posted by Venamm

As for the earlier posts above about "stalling"..??? am I confused or does this word mean more then one thing? If I stall at a light,...I simply fire it up again. Whats this get out and push and use my starter as a second motor stuff?

It means more than one thing I guess. Any car can stall for many reasons that will not allow you to "simply fire it up". Why did it stall, (or die), in the first place? I'm not talking about stalling because you slipped the clutch too soon. These cars are hand built, and will need to be sorted out from time to time.

Originally Posted by Venamm

Might put one in. I do know up here in the northern climates remote starters on our daily drivers are common and could you imaging starting you car from your bedroom window and watching your car lunge forward. So they are a must with remote starters.

Remote starter on a Cobra? I don't think so!

[Ronbo]

Bill, perhaps on of the mfgs. will reply to your question.

My answer, like yours, would only be a guess.

If they remain silent, well there's your answer.

[Venamm]

Originally Posted by Danr55

Venamm, I'm still having trouble with the picture of starting the Cobra from the bedroom. Somehow, that just doesn't work.

Read never said "Cobra" said car!

[Venamm]

Originally Posted by patrickt

C'mon, these cars only weigh 2500lbs -- you can push them and steer them at the same time. You guys really want to power your car via the starter motor?!? Changing it out is a PITA.

Exactly...lol


Imagine you are at a light and you need to use your starter for a secondary motor?....lol....please tell me no one has ever done this?