Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Decided to move this photo from another thread with a question.

Out of maybe a dozen switches, have only seen this issue once but wondering if anyone else has and if it could be common enough to cause some unexplained movement problems.

In the highlighted area, notice the small arm which moves the contacts. In the top switch, all is well & the arm is centered between two spring legs. The bottom switch has the left leg of the spring broken. Once the bar lever is moved to level car in one direction, as car levels even though the small lever moves back to it's normal position, spring leg is missing so lever has nothing to push against. It can't return the contact plate assembly to center and turn the system off so it goes to limit (hopefully stopping). If it needed to go the other direction, nothing would happen because the contact plate won't move. Without the spring pressure, there is also nothing to keep the contact plate from swinging to the side away from missing spring leg. The assy is fairly heavy and pretty free moving so if something bounced the switch or maybe even inertia might be enough, the plate can move and make contact. It might be enough for a solid contact or just a bouncy type thing which the time delay might not react to unless it was fairly persistent.

If others report seeing it then I think it would be a good idea on some unexplained movements to check the spring by disconnecting the link and moving lever by hand to feel tension in both directions.

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Have never seen that failure, but it is certainly easy to check for--lever must return to center when released.

Certainly the most common failure is dirty contacts. I think second in line would be the fine wire that heats the timer contact. That wire was glued on and here 56 years later the joint is failing. I have been able to solder those little devils down by gently abrading the wire to get a little insulation off. Its kind of like watchmaking.

My suggestion to T-L car owners is to leave the system on at all times unless the car is being hoisted. There is not the faintest chance of wearing the system out, but many perish from infrequent use. That is usually when ill-informed repairs are undertaken and a host of demons are released.