TheSamba.com :: View topic - SWF 6-wire turn switch mechanical adventure.

Mon Jun 30, 2025 8:51 am

Stay curious my friend.

In another thread i was troubleshooting electrical on my 65 brake lights. It ended up being the contacts but while doing that i broke out my spare switch and dove into it.

The below thread is the only place i found someone who when this deep.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=126397&highlight=turn+switch

Fast forward and I have it all back together now but it is mechanically binding. Below is showing my adventure but also asking of anyone who has gone father than me. Please chime in if you have.

BTW. I know WW sells really nice ones...

This is from my 65. Much better shape but i did not get a before image of the unit under repair.

What i started with. 60 years of grim and mechanically sticky. PCB removed here.

The PCB was cracked so it pulled off easy. I will fix that later. Here is the bakelite plate below. Springs and contacts already removed.

PCB. You can see the cracks in the corners. This is why it lifted off so easy. If this were not the case then i would have to drill out the studs.

all clean now. Some kerosene and compressed air.
Milled the studs down so they still center the PCB. Drilled and tap for a M2 screw.

Test fit. You can see things line up.

Parts cleaned and lubed up.

All together and lubed but still not working well. It binds pretty badly. Like you would bend the arm badly. Not all the time which is curious and leads me to think there is a variable i am not recognizing. You can move it back and forth with moderate resistance and then it will lock up. both directions.

This image obviously does not have the main spring of other parts. In this state it works freely but once you add all those parts back it misbehaves.

I have not gotten the guts to take the rest apart. Thought i would see if there was any wisdom out there i could tap first.

The rear main spring seems too tight but that probably means mechanical wear has taken place for how tight it has always been.

Any guidance for those who have been down this road?

Mon Jun 30, 2025 1:30 pm

Could putting it in the mill vise have bent or deformed something?

Tue Jul 01, 2025 7:50 am

Possible. I did not use that much pressure. I put a straight edge on it and see.

Thank you.