Rotary Wiper Switches

[KevinW]

I guess you are looking for the correct OEM-style fluted knobs.
Well, I organised a group buy for the wiper and panel switches for a bunch of UK guys, I can tell you it wasnt the most enjoyable experience of my life.

Car builder solutions WONT be able to help you. Nor will Europa, or Finnishline or lots of other places.
There are some early Jag XK knobs that look a bit similar, but they arent the same thing.

Cobrarestorers sometimes has something useful, but often the knobs arent engraved.

Gerry Hawkridge at Hawk cars (UK) can sometimes supply these, but couldnt when i ordered mine.

ERA will supply, but it depends who you talk to. I got told yes they would, then someone else got an emphatic NO! for non-ERA cars.

In the end I found Superformance would supply. Hooray!
But oh boy, oh boy.....
If they have what you want in stock, bite their hands off and get it.

If they havent, and you really want the parts, then your troubles have just beguin....be prepared for months, and I mean months and months and months and months of delays and problems. wrong parts sent (for which I had the pleasure of picking up the import taxes) incorrect instructions, you name the problem, I had it. It seems everything is made in South Africa, and the SA factory has its own ideas about when it decides it will get out of bed, oh, and , er , let the customer know if anything is going to happen.... anytime soon.

the only saving grace was that Dave Cope at SPF was patient and conducted himself in a professional manner through many tel calls and emails.

btw if you order the fluted knobs do yourself a favour, and get yourself original NOS Lucas switches from Holden in the UK or go to a car boot sale , or check out e-bay (btw the land rover Lucas wiper switch always on e-bay it seems, with a push-to-wash facility is unlikely to work). there are absolutely loads of switcches with multiple outputs - for wipers you need an On-On-Off set of connections. the shafts will fit, and its a hell of a lot better than using epoxy to fix a halfround shaft in a hex shaped hole... which is what most switch shafts are like.

So there ya have it.... enjoy.

.... spleen emptied....... and thank you!

[Merv and Sharon]

Somehow Kevin I suspected that this would not be easy .... Your story is one of determination. I am not sure that I am that determined. I will get the right switch and try writing directly to some of the car builders you have listed. As you say, generally they aren't parts suppliers.

[Merv and Sharon]

The Cole Hersee switch was available locally and they are a fine product. Very sturdy and if I was building now I would be using them in preference to Lucas, where possible. I have a period knob fitted (from my old MGA) while waiting for one from Cobra Restorers (if USPS ever delivers, they seem to think overseas means Canada ..).

[David Hodgson]

Merv, have you tried Rare Spares? From memory I used headlight and wiper switches from XW/XY Falcon and fitted early Valiant chrome knobs.
They attach on the switch shaft with a grub screw. They are chromed metal but no text or symbol.

[Merv and Sharon]

I did thanks David. They only had the silver and white ones.

[ptrefry]

Merv i got mine from Hillbank superperformance CA
Went online and purchased them , very easy,arrived in 1 week of ordering them.
Thanks Paul

[FWB]

you need this with any lucas purchase.....

[Rog246]

Originally Posted by Merv and Sharon

The Cole Hersee switch was available locally and they are a fine product. Very sturdy and if I was building now I would be using them in preference to Lucas, where possible. I have a period knob fitted (from my old MGA) while waiting for one from Cobra Restorers (if USPS ever delivers, they seem to think overseas means Canada ..).

I know what you mean Merv ! I got 2 parcels late last week from US one posted in July the other early August !

[mickmate]

You've figured out you need on, on, on for your three positions because of the park. The originals used the DR3 two speed motor with a pigtail of 6 wires coming out. The switch they used is a PRS7 which is still readily available. The problem with the PRS7's that are now available is they only have 3 or 4 contacts and the originals had 13 contacts. The contacts also need to be independent of each other as they make funny noises when high and low are hooked up at the same time. That makes a third speed (medium) that lets the smoke out.

[Merv and Sharon]

Yes Rog - I had a similar experience with USPS with some MasFlo parts addressed to me in Australia that went from MasFlo in the US to Winnipeg for some reason and then got lost there for two weeks and then back to the Boston despatch centre and and back to MasFlo. They were addressed again with AUSTRALIA in huge caps and then re-posted. Of course, USPS sent them back to some remote town in Canada for two weeks and then after almost two months they arrived here. That was Priority Express Mail.

Thanks also Paul. If the one coming is not perfect, I will follow your lead there. I am determined to get this right.

Mick, yes the "ON/ON/ON" configuration. The Cole Hersee switch that I got had almost the same set up as my Lucas original toggle (6 pins). It had a Park, Slow High and Battery connection/s. I have tested it very way possible and all seems well. My motor is not a Lucas original (an improved copy?) and has a slightly different wiring set up.

[sideshow]

there are diagrams around these forums which show u
how to wire up a two speed wiper motor using a normal
two position switch so the park works aswell

or just run an isis wiring system and use your ipad or iPhone
to control things hehehe

[Merv and Sharon]

Thanks Sideshow. What is your experience with Cole Hersee switches?

[ptrefry]

Guys if you need the original style switchers email Dave Cope at Superformance
They have them at a good price.
I had ordered mine and had them within a week.
Dave@superformance.com
Very nice guy to deal with.
Thanks Paul

[Merv and Sharon]

Thanks Paul. I am still after the original style knobs.

[sideshow]

havnt heard of those switches
we hardly buy switches as customer always supplies
havnt done any full reiwres in over a year so havnt had to look into it
ive got wiring diagram at work im just trying to find it on web or on my old laptop

[Merv and Sharon]

They make nice stuff. Very solid. Electrical and Electronic Switches and Connectors for Marine and Commercial Vehicles – Cole Hersee – Littelfuse

[sideshow]

they look good
the only thing ive used thats close to that in the cole herse website is this

http://www.vanline.com.au/VPDF/Switc...0Rocker%20.pdf

u can buy different little lenses to go on each switch

[FatBoy]

I got my original style knobs as part of KevinW's group buy and they look great.
The challenge comes with sourcing the correct switch. I found some 3-position rotary Lucas switches that have a push-to-wash facility. The 3 switch positions don't in themselves provide the park facility. However, I wired up the push-to-wash as push-to-park.
I now have 2-speed wipers that stop at the point they were at when turned off and a momentary push on the knob parks them correctly. Sorted and dead simple.

Paul

[Merv and Sharon]

Kevin had to work for those switch knobs

[FWB]

merv is the motor direct drive? or cable drive? if you can post a close up of the wires and motor i may be able to offer insight into the hookup.


regards, fred