GT6 Mk3 Windshield Wiper Switch

Repairing and improving

  by Steve Bamford on June 8 2008

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One of the problems with the windshield wiper switch on my Triumph GT6 was the main shaft had broken off.  This is a white plastic shaft (black on some switches) and to turn on the wipers you need to twist this shaft on the switch.  So I guess it was only a matter of time before the shaft broke off Pic #3.  I bought the car with a broken shaft on the wiper switch.  

So I decided to contact my online parts supplier and buy a replacement switch for my 35 year old car and with luck the new switch had been upgraded Pic #4.

Although the new switch was a whole new design, the 4 electrical connectors on the back only contained one connector that would fit my wiring harness. Pic #5 & 6.

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Pic #3

  

Pic #4

  

Pic #5

  

Pic #6

 

Rather than return the new switch, I had decided to modify my wiring harness to fit the new switch, although this solution wasn't my most favoured route as I'm interested in restoring my car to original factory specs.  

While attending a car show I found a vendor with some used switches.  I bought one that had a good centre shaft and I thought all my problems were solved, but when I got home I discovered the threads on the body of the switch were damaged and the pin that holds the switch knob on the shaft was damaged.  At that point I took the brand new switch apart to see if there were parts inside that could be used to repair one of my old switches.  And to my surprise the main shaft showed possibilities to replace the broken shaft in my old switches.  I tried to take apart the old switches but it became clear you have to destroy the switches to take them apart.  I was careful to destroy different parts on the two old switches so I would end up with a complete set of good parts to make a final switch.  Pic #7 & 8 

The steel shaft from the new switch could be combined with the head of a carriage bolt to create a new metal central shaft and thus address the biggest weakness to these old switches.  Pic #9 & 10

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Pic #7

  

Pic #8

  

Pic #9

  

Pic #10

After some welding and cleaning up, I had my steel centre shaft ready to go.  Pic #11 & 12

A very cool little tool I picked up off e-bay was for removing the chrome bezel from the end of the switch to remove the switch from the dash of the car.  This inexpensive tool is well worth the money and will save you plenty of grief.  Pic #13

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Pic #11

  

Pic #12

  

Pic #13

Final assembly was performed using my big drill press as a "press" to press the parts together.  Correct lube for the electrical contacts inside the switch was applied before final assembly. 

The finished switch is very trick and I'm confident it will last a very long time, so I guess it was worth the cost and effort.

Steve

Photos and text © by Steve Bamford