The gift of hindsight can sometimes be a very cruel thing. Take for example, the fact that like many of you, I don't throw ANYTHING away. I have left over carpet snaps, used gaskets, things that I couldn't possibly have any use for, but I keep them anyway -- just in case. When you're building a project car, a lot of things can come in handy for reasons you can't anticipate. Case in point:
A couple of months ago, I decided to take a stand and throw out some stuff. Like the broken Lucas turn signal switch that came on the steering column I bought at a junkyard. The stalk was snapped off at the base, and rather than attempt to repair it, I bought a new signal switch from a reputable gent in London who was selling them on eBay for about the same or less than I could buy it domestically, including shipping. I reasoned that it would be foolish to try and repair a 40-year-old switch or whatever it was. When the new Lucas switch arrived, I promptly installed it. Weeks went by, and I would occasionally glance at that old broken switch laying on the workbench. I finally decided to toss it, reasoning "I couldn't possibly have any use for this". Today, realizing that I had inadvertently placed the overdrive stalk on the wrong side of the column, I went about correcting things and one of the steps involved removing the new turn signal switch. Upon removing it, I sort of absent-mindedly gave the stalk a click in one direction and then the other to reassure myself that this brand new switch was going to be swell, while daydreaming about actually using the switch one of these days when the car is on the road. That's when I discovered that the switch would not stay switched on in one position -- the side that was missing the spring clip that holds the switch in the open position until the ridged collar on the steering column resets it after the completion of the turn. WHAT!!!? Fearing that the spring clip must have somehow inexplicably fallen off while installing or removing the switch, I carefully searched the floor of the car -- and the cement underneath it. I also checked thoroughly inside the column housing. Guess what? No spring clip!! I guess that when the switch was manufactured, they missed installing one of the two clips. Then I remembered my "spare", the broken switch. "Ah! I'll just remove one of the clips from that one!" Then, as I searched the garage, it slowly came back to me that I discarded this "junked" switch a month or two ago, reasoning that I could never have any use for it -- and being broken -- it couldn't do anyone else any good, either. It's ironic, that the ONE part I decided to throw away -- I ended up needing. If anyone out there in Spitfire-Land has a broken turn signal switch that you can spare a spring clip from, you know where to find me. Excuse me, but I've got to get back to kicking myself now... Take care, Jeff McNeal (San Diego) '68 Spitfire Mk3 frame off, bare metal project, aka "Mrs. Jones" '70 GT6+ "Accidental", eventual restoration project http://www.TotallyTriumph.net/spitfire/spitfire.shtml Join the TOTALLY TRIUMPH NETWORK! Forums, Photos, How-To's, Classifieds, Links & Triumph Merchandise http://www.TotallyTriumph.net * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * /// [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list /// Send admin requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] /// or try http://www.team.net/cgi-bin/majorcool /// Archives at http://www.team.net/archive /// Send list postings to [EMAIL PROTECTED] /// Edit your replies! If they include this trailer, they will NOT be sent.
