Lancia Beta Forum
Technical stuff => Electrical => Topic started by: Nigel on October 08, 2020, 04:12:30 PM
-
I had read that Eric fitted a new LHD stalk, and he mentioned on another thread that i'd need
a LHD column. He's correct, however I found a work-around by making a couple of little
extension pieces to move the mounting screw holes. It was quite fiddley, and I also had
to relieve the top stud to clear the horn connector.
-
Hi Nigel
Nice Work around!
Eric
-
You've been watching too much Project Binky, looking at those brackets... ;D
As a matter of interest, who go for a LHD stalk - better availability?
-
A couple of reasons:
Apparently only LHD are available new...this came from a UK supplier in 2 days.
I was irritated during a drive last weekend that the indicator stalk was on the wrong side,
so this has fixed my frustration!
My old unit was a bit loose on the light stalk, but worked fine.
So, all in all, a nice to have upgrade, but not essential!
And yes, inspired by BOM!
-
Hi Graham
I did it because all my other cars have the indicators on the left and the stalk assembly has a hi failure rate. I could buy LHD brand new. Getting the cowling in decent condition needs friends in Italy/ Europe.
Eric
-
Hmmm. That makes sense. The indicators on the 'wrong' side is an irritation to me as well. As are the indicators, to be honest, but that's another story...
-
The indicator stalk is (historically speaking) on the correct side for RHD cars. Progressively through the 1980s manufacturers realised that they could save money by fitting the more numerous LHD parts to all their cars.
-
I had a couple of 90s RHD Merc E class which still had the indicator on the right, cannot remember it being a big issue, though guess having an occasional use car different may be odd. Personally happy to keep the oddities as the whole experience of the car is so different to modern ones.
Peter
-
The indicator stalk is (historically speaking) on the correct side for RHD cars. Progressively through the 1980s manufacturers realised that they could save money by fitting the more numerous LHD parts to all their cars.
Yes, that's logical. So we have the bean-counters to thank for LHD stalks on RHD cars... These days it probably comes down to spares availability, I guess.
-
Just to understand -
Assuming that I can put up with the stalks moving in the opposite directions will a LHD assembly fit and function without alteration on a RHD car?
Will the stalks work/move within the standard cut-outs of a RHD binnacle assembly?
Thanks,
Andrew
-
Hi Andrew,
If you look at the first photo above you'll see I made 2 aluminium brackets to
move the screw positions. This enables the new LHD stalk to sit level.
The stalks operate normally.
Eric mentioned having friends in Italian places to source LHD column cowls.
I haven't got such mates, so I cut out the RHD cowls as required. More work with
some fibreglass and resin would solve this issue.
To sum up, it's very doable, but fiddly on a RHD column.
Nigel
-
Thanks Nigel -
Is the modification needed? Cant the assembly just be fitted with the indicators and light switch stalks on the right and the wiper stalk on the left?
Only issue I could see is if binnacle cut outs are not quite right for the anguar positions of the stalks?
?????
-
Yes, and not really Andrew.
If you mount a LHD stalk upside down [which I think is what you mean]
the stalks will all be far too low.
In any case, I don't think it would fit like that.
I found the job very time-consuming, but satisfaction is guaranteed.
Nigel
-
Try posting a wanted ad on any of the Facebook Beta Groups with an Italian/French/Spanish membership to get the cowling. I also got a LHD column which I rebuilt with nice new bearings.
Somewhere I have S1 brown LHD cowl which is shorter than the S2FL black item.
Eric
PS if you can weld and have spare columns it is not a huge job to move the mounts on the end of the column.
-
Having spent time car hopping between Italian, French and Japanese on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis I firmly believe other motorists should recognise that a single wipe means I intend to turn right and a continuous wipe means I intend to turn left.
-
:D
-
Hi Nigel,
The photos seem broken on this page could you repost it ?
Planning to try swap my RHD stalks to LHD set at the weekend and would be interested to see how you did it.
Cheers George
-
Hi
Have you tried refreshing the page as they loaded ok for me?
Peter
-
Hi George,
They opened for me but often I find clicking the rotating circle [refresh]
works.
I'm finding this issue on many pages I visit, but don't know
if it's my laptop or the website causing it.
-
As a matter of interest, does anyone have a source for a new LHD indicator stalk? My Italian is nowhere near good enough to go searching on ebay.it...
-
eBay.it - the magic words to search are Lancia Beta devioluca
https://www.ebay.it/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p4432023.m570.l1313&_nkw=lancia+beta+devioluca&_sacat=0 (https://www.ebay.it/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p4432023.m570.l1313&_nkw=lancia+beta+devioluca&_sacat=0)
and then find a seller willing to ship to the UK.
Guy
-
eBay.it - the magic words to search are Lancia Beta devioluca
https://www.ebay.it/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p4432023.m570.l1313&_nkw=lancia+beta+devioluca&_sacat=0 (https://www.ebay.it/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p4432023.m570.l1313&_nkw=lancia+beta+devioluca&_sacat=0)
and then find a seller willing to ship to the UK.
Guy
Thanks Guy! I suspect it will be easier to wait until I'm in France in April/May and get it sent there. Intra-EU shipments are much less hassle, I've found. Thanks for the translation!
Graham
-
You're welcome - it's amazing what you can pick up just by trawling eBay.it and eBay.de just using the words Lancia Beta... Some of it sticks eventually!
-
Thanks Nigel turns out my browser was having a moment!
On a side note Graham, I just got a new LHD unit from https://www.facebook.com/fortunato.valenza (https://www.facebook.com/fortunato.valenza)
Was €200 including shipping from Italy.
I have ordered loads of stuff from him in the past, very reliable and a nice chap.
Cheers George
-
You're welcome - it's amazing what you can pick up just by trawling eBay.it and eBay.de just using the words Lancia Beta... Some of it sticks eventually!
Subito.it is also worth a look.
Fortunato is very active on Facebook and appears to have a wide range of stock, I am in the process of buying some small items so good to hear of first hand dealings with him.
Peter
-
As a matter of interest, does anyone have a source for a new LHD indicator stalk? My Italian is nowhere near good enough to go searching on ebay.it...
Hi Graham,
I got mine from D G Rally in 2020, paid £178.
No idea if they still have, but I do see them online from various sources occasionally.
Nigel
-
Thanks Nigel turns out my browser was having a moment!
On a side note Graham, I just got a new LHD unit from https://www.facebook.com/fortunato.valenza (https://www.facebook.com/fortunato.valenza)
Was €200 including shipping from Italy.
I have ordered loads of stuff from him in the past, very reliable and a nice chap.
Cheers George
Thanks George, will bookmark him.
Graham
-
As a matter of interest, does anyone have a source for a new LHD indicator stalk? My Italian is nowhere near good enough to go searching on ebay.it...
Hi Graham,
I got mine from D G Rally in 2020, paid £178.
No idea if they still have, but I do see them online from various sources occasionally.
Nigel
Thanks Nigel, will have a look at them.
Graham
-
You're welcome - it's amazing what you can pick up just by trawling eBay.it and eBay.de just using the words Lancia Beta... Some of it sticks eventually!
Subito.it is also worth a look.
Fortunato is very active on Facebook and appears to have a wide range of stock, I am in the process of buying some small items so good to hear of first hand dealings with him.
Peter
Thanks Peter!
-
A couple of reasons:
Apparently only LHD are available new...this came from a UK supplier in 2 days.
I was irritated during a drive last weekend that the indicator stalk was on the wrong side,
so this has fixed my frustration!
My old unit was a bit loose on the light stalk, but worked fine.
So, all in all, a nice to have upgrade, but not essential!
And yes, inspired by BOM!
I have purchased a new set of LHD sticks, I was wondering what approx size bar did you start with, 25x5?
Not in a rush to do this, it will be a rainy day project maybe. I have had no obvious signs of 'smoke' from the stalks area, but not touched the wipers since [scared]. I will strip the wipers before I try that again. Main reason for doing this is the broken dodgy repair of the wiper stalk is not filling me with confidence.
Mark
-
I have purchased a new set of LHD sticks, I was wondering what approx size bar did you start with, 25x5?
Mark
Hi Mark,
I actually used bits of aluminium, I think they were around 6mm thick.
Using steel is fine and you can go thinner, so 5mm will be fine. You don't need any strength,
precision is key. As you can hopefully see, start by drilling holes to mount at the back of existing,
then put switch on, (ensuring the switch is going to cancel evenly) to mark holes for tapping M5 threads.
Trim to as small as required to clear everything. 8mm wide is plenty width.
Using the existing cowls is fine, although you'll need to dremel out slots as required.
Or obtain a pair of LHD cowls as I did. I still had to modify these, but better than the old ones.
Hope this helps
N.
-
(y)
Thank you Nigel
-
I fitted my lhd stalks today. I think I will get some lhd shrouds next.
Its not as neat as your aluminium ones Nigel. I tried in steel as I had this in stock. All works.
M
-
Good work Mark.
I think I mentioned that the LHD shrouds are a 'much better to have' but you'll
still need to relieve the left side upper to clear a connector tab. You can
disguise this with black paint.
N.
-
So is the conclusion that the switch assembly cannot be repaired?
-
So is the conclusion that the switch assembly cannot be repaired?
Hi John
Depends what is wrong with it I guess. I know there is a popular plastic part that cracks which has been remade.
Peter
-
If anyone has a broken trafficator broken stalks then they can be fixed through the magic of 3D printing.
I am always on the lookout for broken trafficators so that I can get the measurements, sufficient to do a CAD design for the replacement parts and print them....namely the indicator stalk and the Lights stalk bodies. (later model with the black cylindrical stalk ends)
Let me know if you have anything along these lines that you are willing to part with.
Cheers,
Steve
-
I noticed the right headlight stalk needs a bit of a wiggle and pressure in the right place to turn on dashboard lights.
Does that sound like it is the bit that snaps frequently, or something different?
Not against sharing bits for 3D scanning but experience shows that unless you have a plan to source possible parts, you risk being off the road with the car in bits
In my good old Morris Marina days the stalk switch could be disassembled, contacts cleaned and reassembled.
-
I noticed the right headlight stalk needs a bit of a wiggle and pressure in the right place to turn on dashboard lights.
Does that sound like it is the bit that snaps frequently, or something different?
Not against sharing bits for 3D scanning but experience shows that unless you have a plan to source possible parts, you risk being off the road with the car in bits
Hi Jon, the Beta trafficator can be disassembled and cleaned quite easily...have done several. There is a bit of fiddling with ball bearings and springs but technique wins the day. However, Attempting a repair is always a huge gamble with 40 year old plastic parts and yes, not having replacement parts on hand or readily available could mean being off the road for a while, wishing you had never bothered in the first place.....bin there way too many times !!
As concerns the 3D printing.....I should have been more clear as I was only interested aquiring broken trafficators where owners had already replaced the broken one. The hope is that replacement parts could be designed in CAD using the spec and measurements taken from the broken parts. The replacement parts could then be made available to anyone wishing to replace just the broken item as opposed to replacing the entire trafficator.
To answer your question about wiggling the light stalk....No, that is not what usually breaks. All too often the entire stalk is broken off leading to some creative and fragile repairs.
If it was me, I would investigate this unsound connection in the light stalk switch
Steve
-
I bought this one from a UK seller, I think Nigel did the same
https://ebay.us/m/Z8XAIG
-
I bought this one from a UK seller, I think Nigel did the same
https://ebay.us/m/Z8XAIG
Yes, that's the seller.
There are sometimes choices in which route to go with old broken parts.
In this case, considering the age of the switch and the use it's had already,
replacement with a new one is a sound investment despite the fiddly challenge
to fit it, as described.
Nigel