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MG MGB Technical - '69 Headlight Switch Removal?

The headlight switch on my '69 MGC needs replacing. The shop manual shows that it is withdrawn forward out of the dash (naturally while referring to some special TOOL #). The manual shows that the inner guts and rocker are separate from the surrounding bezel that stays in the dash. It also shows some spring wire clip that holds something to something and also some "tabs" on the switch. I can just barely see/feel this stuff while contorted in the footwell and can't quite figure out what is supposed to be squeezed/pryed/pushed/pulled to get this thing out.
What's the trick?
Kelvin Palmer

First disconnct the battery and then pop the spring clip from one of the tabs using a small screw driver. Then the switch comes out the front side with the wires attached, which can then be carefully removed.
I havent disassembled the headlight switch, but on the single position fan and map switches there is a spring loaded copper roller inside that makes contact across the terminals, depending on the position of the rocker.
Unlike most Lucas equipment, which in my experience respond well to a good cleaning, these early rocker switches seem to just give up the ghost for good.
My map light switch will no longer stay in the off position, and is on all the time with the lights ( which I rather like), but the fan switch was a corroded mess and couldnt be saved. I had to replace it with a new one, which comes with a garish fake chrome finish on the bezel. This cleans off easily with #0000 steel wool and leaves a matt finish that matches the original black finish found on the 68-69 MkII cars switch bezels.
Andrew Blackley

This thread was discussed between 04/09/2002 and 05/09/2002

MG MGB Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGB Technical BBS is active now.