Packard Forum Index » Project Blogs

The switch plungers can stick and keep the switch open but a more common failure seems to be with the wires breaking right at the end where they are soldered into the switch terminals. The solder seems to run up the wire under the insulations and makes the wire very hard. Vibration or wire being pulled in a very tight and sharp angle does the breaking.

Which limit switches are you trying to use? In your picture I can see limit switches in the gearbox which means it is a 56 and the solenoids which are there in the 55. Did you hook up the 55 or 56 limit switches when you replaced the compensator? Also, which control box are you using.

Ok I will check the wiring, they are a bit stiff.
I bought this Clipper in 1998. It was sitting in a large backyard in Phoenix, AZ with 40 other cars. It was bought for the air condioner, but it wasn't factory air conditioning so the new owner in Phoenix did not want it. It came from Bethany, Oklahoma. The last registration was in 1976 in Oklahoma. It wasn't running when I got it. It had 4 bent pushrods in the engine.
So I have no idea what limit switches it has or uses. I put in a new digital compensator I got from Max Merritt.

Just in case you do not have complete drawings showing all the internal contacts here are both the 55 and 56 systems with the different limit switches and layouts. In 56 the switches and location of components was changed to be more protected from water. Both years had normally closed limit switches but 55 was operated by the transverse bars touching and moving a lever arrangement to open a mechanical contact while 56 has the internal cam operating an enclosed plunger switch. When the 55 control switch stock with exposed terminals was exhausted they went to the 56 switch with protected terminals for any service replacements so there could be a slight difference in wiring there. The optional for 56 manual over ride switch is also shown in the 56 drawing and is probably not present on your 55. The light green wire would go directly from the brake switch to the under dash on/off switch and then to the control switch in cars without the manual override. The other two sires going to control switch would not be present..

[