Crappy 'Lucas' switches

[amulheirn]

On my way home from Goodwood (as a few people noticed) my lights failed completely. Managed to track it down to a failed head/sidelight switch on the dashboard. I got the right combination of wires on some alternative pins and had enough light to get home with fortunately.

Since then, two different club members have each told me they are on their second switch because they're not very well made. I bought a replacement which is a Lucas clone, but of course I've no way of knowing if that's going to be better or worse than what was in there before - and if I got a genuine Lucas item, would that be any better?

Wondered what anyone else has done here? I guess fitting relays might be the thing to do instead perhaps.

Andrew

[amulheirn]

I took the broken switch apart just now - a pin holding one of the brass wipers must have got hot enough to melt its way loose:

0DB51862-549D-45B2-8068-D8D5292DEC34.jpeg

[clive]

Do you not have headlight relays in the loom?

[StewbieC]

Indicator relays and canoe fuses are other typical failures.
I always keep a spare relay and I changed the fuses to blade type.
I managed to get a NOS Lucas light switch that seems to have lasted.

Lucas are not known as the "Prince of Darkness" by the Americans for nothing

[amulheirn]

[Migge]

I guess that's why Ken Miles etc. uses old aircraft switches on their comp. cars. Me too

[Migge]

Picture

[KevinW]

I had a similar problem with a NOS Lucas rotary wiper switch.
I bought one of these, on Simon's recommendation - pricey, but now I see it is hand-made, I understand why.
https://www.holden.co.uk/p/triumph-tr6-switch-1
Problem solved.