We fitted the first car with new Lucas 6RA relays and three of them blew first time so we change the lot out for older ones with success.
I have a set of 20 relays left dating from 1962-1966 and most of them appear to be NOS.
So today I opened them up for complete overhaul and gapping together with sending the cases for re-plating.
I have often read that the newer versions were lesser in quality that the old and this shot proves it in my opinion.
The coils on the old relays are paper protected and the leads to the contacts are heavier gauge covered wires offering better protection.
The top four relays with the bright coils in the photo are new old stock 1973 and you can see the production changes over seven years. Apart from the light varnish on the coil winding these is no weather protection or insulation.
I might get a new one for further comparison just for the hell of it.
Well we have some light oxidation on the zinc coated armatures which I will remove and before gapping the contacts to spec and I will re-cover the coils in Kapton tape. The contacts will also get a fresh tinning to make good.
Once they are together and tested I shall seal the bases in epoxy.