Re: Fixing tornsion ride solenoid timer
Posted by HH56 On 2014/9/29 9:04:30
Does it appear your box has been opened such as different or a new fastening method like different type rivets or screws instead of old rivets at the corners holding the cover on? If it has been opened there is no telling what you will find inside. I don't believe you will be able to find anything else that will work other than a replacement Packard switch.
Hard to say if you can fix the switch yourself because it depends on what you find causing the problem. If it is one of the solid state conversions, most of the Packard guts were removed and a solid state timer was installed to work the relays. That timer could have shorted so box will need to be replaced. If a Packard original switch then something has grounded or possibly broken and you will need to see what has happened inside the box. An original switch usually doesn't work at all because one of the movable contacts has broken off or a heating element burned open so its contact doesn't operate.
The normal operation of the original box requires two sets of contacts to close for the switch and relay to activate. The lever rotates a plate containing a movable set of contacts which connects one side of the relay and at the same time a heating element on a bimetal strip to battery voltage. As the element heats, the bimetal strip bends and when it finally bends enough (the 7 seconds) it has another contact which completes the relay circuit by connecting the relay coil to ground. Relay activates, car levels, and as the car reaches level the movable contact breaks its connection to battery so relay drops out and leveler stops.
If you want to open the box and look to see what you can do, here is the original box and a 55 schematic of the entire system including the box internals.
Attach file:
(51.88 KB)
(147.86 KB)
Hard to say if you can fix the switch yourself because it depends on what you find causing the problem. If it is one of the solid state conversions, most of the Packard guts were removed and a solid state timer was installed to work the relays. That timer could have shorted so box will need to be replaced. If a Packard original switch then something has grounded or possibly broken and you will need to see what has happened inside the box. An original switch usually doesn't work at all because one of the movable contacts has broken off or a heating element burned open so its contact doesn't operate.
The normal operation of the original box requires two sets of contacts to close for the switch and relay to activate. The lever rotates a plate containing a movable set of contacts which connects one side of the relay and at the same time a heating element on a bimetal strip to battery voltage. As the element heats, the bimetal strip bends and when it finally bends enough (the 7 seconds) it has another contact which completes the relay circuit by connecting the relay coil to ground. Relay activates, car levels, and as the car reaches level the movable contact breaks its connection to battery so relay drops out and leveler stops.
If you want to open the box and look to see what you can do, here is the original box and a 55 schematic of the entire system including the box internals.
Attach file:
(51.88 KB)
(147.86 KB)
This Post was from: https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=150604