Tool for Tightening Switches

[Ian Anderson]

Is there a speciat tool that is made to tighten up the nuts on Lucas style swithces that have round edges but 2 slots in the front? If so what is it called and where do you get them?

I have got them fairly tight by using a screwdriver in one side but some still feel loose.

The Ignition switch has the same slots and doesn't pull tight enough on the screwdriver method to stay still against the twist motion on the crank position.

thanks Ian

 

[chuck smith]

Ian, I made one out of aluminum stock. Just cut the appropriate size slot in the aluminum and it works like a charm,same for ign switch

 

[Pete K.]

I took a (very cheap) pair of needle nose pliers and ground the tips to fit the slots in the switch "nut."

 

[BenL]

Could something like a pair of circlip pliers with 90 degree tips be used?
http://www.amazon.com/Grizzly-G8069-Circlip-Plier-Set/dp/B0000DD6Y7/
(that's just the first link I found with Google)

 

[Ian Anderson]

I tried te circlip pliers and they were fine on the switches BUT the ignition switch with twist action remains a problem

Thanks for the ideas

Ian

 

[Lynn Larsen]

I don't think this will help you Ian, but for those who have the same problem with bezel ring/nuts with 3 slots there is a nice AND cheap tool. Harbor Freight (HF) sells a "watch case" wrench. In essence this is variable radius side spanner with two or three changable profiles for the tips. Well, if you watch, HF will often sell these things for ≈ $7.00 (the normal price is only $9 and change), and they make tightening the three slot bezel/nut a breeze. I don't recall what the min-max diameters are with the tool, but it seems to me that it will go upto around an inch and a half.

I used a vintage Ford ignition switch so that I could have the old square Ford key for my car. The bezel/nut is fairly large and anything I rigged up would still slip and I was afraid I was going to mar the bezel and I was never sure if I had tightened it well enough. And, usually I hadn't, so that when I would start the car, the whole switch would turn a little. (This was very disconcerting to someone as anal as I am: that damned key slot has to be perfectly plumb. And I KNOW that none of you out there are like that as well. LOL)

Regards,
Lynn

 

[Ron Rowse]

I took a 9/16 socket 1/4 drive and filed down the edge until I it had two lugs sticking up. I have used this socket for over 20 years now with out fail. it was a Williams socket MD-618 from my avaition days. I was going to post a photo but I have had a gut full of trying. the message keeps coming back that the size is to big. yet I see others posting many photos on there thread. this is not the first time I have had trouble posting I have even asked this site for help but if you are not in the grove you never here back from anyone.

Hope the socket helps
Ron.

 

[Chris Kouba]

Ron,

Check your PM's.

Chris

 

[JCoop]

Would this work? I have the same problem after adding a relay to the ignition switch circuit...
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=36554

 

[Peter Delaney]

Ron, the easy way to resize pics is to get the free add-on from MS. Once installed, all you do is right-click on the file in Windows Explorer, click on Resize Image, select the size you want & away you go.

The add-on is available from :

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx


Kind Regards,

Peter D.

 

[Ian Anderson]

Ray

That is the kind of thing I expected except that is for grinders and I believe the pins are about 1/8 inch diameter - too big for the switch slots.

I think Lynn may have the answer on a watch back removing took

Seen on e bay
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-ARRIVAL-C...yZ117039QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

For £10 all in it should work and is cheap enough - I just thought a normal tool would be used for the auto industry

Ian

 

[Chris Kouba]

I took a 9/16 socket 1/4 drive and filed down the edge until I it had two lugs sticking up. I have used this socket for over 20 years now with out fail. it was a Williams socket MD-618 from my avaition days... Ron.

Ron's cheat (click to enlarge any of them):

 

[Lynn Larsen]

Here is a picture of the watch case opener I was talking about. As you can see, it is really designed for engaging slots that are multiples of three:'

Harbor Freight #915510

Regards,
Lynn

 

[JimmyMac]

Lucas dash tool

 

[Tim Kay]

Since discussing the tightening of these Lucus nuts, would anyone know where to purchase this type of nut alone, without having to purchase the whole switch?