Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[NLWim]

Dave,
I own a Riley RMA from 1947. One of the trafficators seem to be tired: it looks like the coil is not powerfull enough to jump the arm.
Is this repairavle or can you help me with a replacement one?
I do not eactly know what model it is, perhaps you can find it in the catalogue.
Thanks,
Wim

[peter scott]

Hi Wim,

The pull of the coil is most unlikely to have altered. The most likely causes
of the arm not lifting are:

1. Insufficient voltage is present at the trafficator (due to bad connections or dirty contacts in your indicator switch.

2. The lever mechanism is clogged up with dirt. This is not too difficult to sort
just by brushing a solvent in and around the levers. (Do remember that to raise the arm you must push the solenoid plunger down, you must never try to raise the arm by lifting it directly as it is locked until the solenoid operates.)

3. The arm is fouling on the car's bodywork. (especially when in the slipstream of the car when in motion.)

HTH

Peter

[ukdave2002]

Hi

Agree with Peter, Lucas trafficators don't have the best electrical terminals on them, check the push fit bullet type connector on the unit its self, and taht the device has a good connection to ground, poor connecters account for 90% of trafficator problems as they draw quite a large current when lifting the arm.

Dave

[NLWim]

Peter and Dave thanks for the hints, I will pay attention to both mechaniocal and electrical parts. It appears that on one side a type SF34 is mounted, at the other side a type SF80, what could be the reason for this?. Both amber glasses are in a poor shape and should be renewed. Do you think theu are still available somewhere?
Thanks,
Wim

[PAUL BEAUMONT]

Dave is really the expert on these, but if it is an SF80 I believe that the Morris Minor centre do new replacement arms.

[ukdave2002]

Yep you can get new amber arms for about £4 each, they are not genuine Lucas but you would be pushed t0 spot the difference!

[NLWim]

Dave,
do the amber arms of the SF80 also fit on the SF34 or are the arms of SF34 still available as well?
Wim

[ukdave2002]

Hi NLWim

During the Late 50's Lucas stopped making spares for any trafficator except the SF80's, it is very common to see SF80's where SF34 & SF40 would have been original spec, once fitted you are hard pushed to see the difference as long as the colour was orange! (I dont recall ever seeing a yellow SF80 arm).

The main reason for fiting an SF80 would be a broken arm on an older unit, the arms are different see pic below, the SF 34/40 have a metal end moulded into the plastic and require a rivet to attach to the main tafficator body, the SF80 arm just slides on and is fixed with a single screw, so were much cheaper and quicker to replace, and as as I said are still avalible in repro form.

[NLWim]

Dave,
thanks for your explanation. Both arms are cracked and I would like to have them replaced. Can you supply a refurbished SF80? The SF 80 which is already mounted has a kind of adaption plate to compensate the difference in hight. Is this also available?. If you would like to have it I could send you the SF34 trafficator.

Meanwhile I have cleaned both versions and indeed I think the contacts were corroded. Both type's function now allthough the solenoid of the SF80 seems to have more Power. If I hold the SF34 under a slight angle it needs a bit of help to make the stroke complete.

Wim

[ukdave2002]

Hi Wim

These are the standard Lucas fixing/adaptor plates;



I suspect your SF80 has the 582087 (2nd from right)? let me know and I'll see what I have, no problem sorting you out with a refurbished SF80.Yep as you have noticed the SF80 does have an improved solenoid so the arms do lift better.


Cheers Dave

[Scotty]

Dave - you're starting to scare me!

[ukdave2002]

I scare my self! But the local pull a good pint !so I survive!

[NLWim]

Dave,
thanks for your reaction. You are right, the fixing plate looks very much like type 582087. Thanks for your help. Waiting for further good news!
Regards, Wim