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Trafficator Repair

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Ray Smith

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HELP!!! I need someone who can disassemble and clean my trafficator. I am too "chicken' to attempt this job myself. I know that some of the persons on this forum have performed this chore which success.

I have never seen any publication that shows clearly how to desassemble and assemble the unit. Perhaps with good directions I could attack the bugger myself.

Thanks,

Ray
 
Hi Ray, yes I'll come down to Florida and help you with it, if you'll pay my expenses. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Just kidding. Are you referring to the steering wheel component or the relay box under the hood near the left front?
 
Actually, it is very easy. A couple of years ago someone on this forum took some great pictures of it being disassembled so you can see how it goes back together. Can someone here remember the thread? I printed it but "filed" it somewhere.
 
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nonod.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nonod.gif TH,It is not easy. I have done some of them and I could not guide you through the process now.If good pictures are available and I seem to remember some too then it will help guide you.It is not rocket science but it has its own bits and bobs-FWIW---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
HELP!!! I need someone who can disassemble and clean my trafficator. I am too "chicken' to attempt this job myself. I know that some of the persons on this forum have performed this chore which success.

I have never seen any publication that shows clearly how to desassemble and assemble the unit. Perhaps with good directions I could attack the bugger myself.

Thanks,

Ray

[/ QUOTE ]

It really isn't that hard. Start by cleaning off a nice spot on your workbench (or kitchen table...). Just lay the parts out in order as you remove them. Pay special attention to the springs and the orientation of the little "canceling" things.

If there are no broken parts, it will most likely benefit from a thorough cleaning and lubrication.

If you're really concerned about the way the parts go, take pictures (or make sketches) as you tear it down. You can refer to them as it goes back together.

Not too long ago, I went through my trafficator to loosen it up again. I'm sure it took well under an hour from start to finish.
 
Hi Ray, I seem to recall that Gary Anderson did a very detailed article on the repair of the trafficator when he was publisher of British Car Magazine. You might send Gary an Email as he probably has an index on his computer and can supply a copy of the article.-FWIW---Keoke
 
Someone on this forum posted this link a while back when I was working on my trafficator.
https://www.wavewired.net/~tracy/trafficator/trafficator.htm
Although the link is fantastic! It didn't help me with the missing parts on my own trafficator. But having an MG 1100 NOS stalk mount signal switch, I now have signals but I retained the trafficator for my horn push.
some day I will find the missing bits and make it work.

Frank
 
Ray, Here was my original post from last year.

Wow. I had a sausage sandwich for dinner last night. If you ever watch the Crosby show when ever Bill eats a sausage sandwich he has freaky
dreams. Well guess what? I had a whopper last night. I dreamt that I went to a Stones concert ticket less. I ran in to George Bush and his entourage
of secret service men and told George "I went to the Stones Some Girls concert on my birthday 20 years ago, today is the anniversary, my birthday and I don't have a ticket. Can you pull some strings?" He promptly had one of his people produce a ticket for front center, wow. I was elated and kept exclaiming " Hey mang Horhey Butch hooked me up dude!". I woke up in a sweat at about 3 am and really needed to clear my head.

Your probably wondering what this has to do with trafficators......... Well I put on my grundgies, went to the workshop and set about disassembling my trafficator taking pictures along the way. I figured heck, this is much better than dreaming George Bush and hold out hippies smoking cash crop listening to a 60 some year old Mick all the while thinking Keith Richards is gonna just OD and die right there on stage.

Anyway, here are the pics. I hope this helps out some of you who aspire to be watchmakers and will use your trafficator to get your apprenticeship.
Mine was suffering from the failure to cancel in one direction.

Keep in mind that there are a dozen or so spring loaded little bits inside just waiting to be liberated. There is a great how-to by Steve Byers that should be referenced. Read this and cross check against the photos I uploaded.
https://hometown.aol.com/bgahc/01_jwha_trafficatorremoval.html

Note that I never remove all the screws for the electrical connection throughout my inspection. DO NOT REMOVE THE SCREWS UNDER THE HORN PUSH BUTTON FIRST!! Here's the photos link:

https://www.wavewired.net/~tracy/trafficator/trafficator.htm

Remind me not to eat a sausage sandwich late at night...........

Tracy
 
Thanks for all of the outstanding information!! The pictures and text were both great. I am still a little concerned about disassembling the trafficator and then not being able to reassemble it. I guess it is the prospect of all the "fiddley" bits that are a bit daunting. Anyone want to come to florida and give some individual tuition. LOL.

Cheers,

Ray
 
Thanks for those great photos. My trafficators don't cancel, and I plan on working that out in the spring, so I've saved the photos. I really appreciate it.

Scott
 
SHG, Failure of the trafficator to cancel is its prime failure mode,generally caused by a PO installing the little cancellation dogs in backwards.Easy to fix.--Keoke
 
[ QUOTE ]

SHG, Failure of the trafficator to cancel is its prime failure mode,generally caused by a PO installing the little cancellation dogs in backwards.Easy to fix.--Keoke

[/ QUOTE ]

You're making me feel a little inadequate here. What are "little cancellation dogs?" Must I feed them? Walk them? Joking aside, don't tease me with the easy to fix thing, bearing in mind that my technical skills are challenged by turning the ignition key.

Scott
 
i too am having probelms with the right side sticking and not cancelling. But it seems the roundcover is loose because I can turn it about 20 degrees to the right. then then cencellation works as well as the trafficator keeping on till I turn right.

Maybe we can number the pictures and get some text to explain. That would be awesome
 
Hi Scott, take a look at picture #9 posted on this forum,you will see two small silver metal tangs [dogs] located in grooves of the trafficator.AS shown they are in the correct physical orientation. Most people reverse them when putting the assembly back together which negates the cancelling action--FWIW---Keoke-----OH I almost forgot!Yes you must feed them!After you get them cleaned up feed them sparingly with "Lubriplate High Temp White Grease" which will keep them healthy for the rest of their life. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
But it seems the roundcover is loose because I can turn it about 20 degrees to the right. then then cencellation works as well as the trafficator keeping on till I turn right.


[/ QUOTE ]

Most likely the three grub screws that hold the trafficator are loose allowing it to turn. If you look at the steering wheel hub, there are three small slotted screws. Loosen each of them fully (without taking them completely out), push the trafficator in gently to make sure it is well seated and then tighten the grub screws. Solve the problem?

Cheers,
John
 
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