MTFCA Forum

Hello, is anyone rebuilding ignition switches?

I have a few clients that either need a new switch or have theirs rebuilt.

Thanks

David

Good Luck on finding a new Ignition Switch!

I still have three of the new 1926-27 ignition switches.

I did this one earlier last week and installed it on Saturday.

I put the wire set on to the Terminal Block to save installation time.

Are you providing rebuilding services?

Can't help with a rebuilder but I can tell you it's a damn fiddily business. I bought a kit, I forget from whom, and ended up using some new kit parts and some of the original bits. It worked but it was a chore.

It seems as though the major problem in "servicing" is the key cylinder - originals being potmetal, they swell & crack. The repro cylinders are hit & miss as far as operating correctly in a given switch as there were several manufacturers. Lang's carries a good replacement back piece for both pin & tab type which besides the cylinder can be easily replaced eliminating most of the issues.

That cylinder is a few thousands larger and will only replace a new switch that also uses those cylinders.

There were a huge number of those cylinders made about 30 years ago or so and they are all worthless to use with a rebuilt original switch.

Ben Martin was paying $50 to $80 for those original cylinders when he could find them.

They had just about exhausted his supply when he became ill and had to quit working.

Is Ben Martin still rebuilding switches or has he retired from that.

I had a delightful and long telephone conversation with Ben only yesterday. It came about after he left a funny message on my phone earlier in the day. It appears that my ignition switch and ammeter on the rectangular panel will be one of the last few he’ll restore. I encouraged him to find a protege’ or 2 to train but he said the difficulty is in finding parts - especially key tumblers.

Couldn't key tumblers be reproduced via 3d printing??

Don't know if anyone is interested, but I have the original switch and ammeter assembly from my 26 Tudor. The ammeter is broken but the switch with key still works fine. I replaced the whole thing with a new one. I will part with this one if someone needs it.

speedytinc wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 25, 2025 1:59 pm

Couldn't key tumblers be reproduced via 3d printing??

I'm think so. The "tumbles" itself has no moving parts. There are slots for wafers that provided the locking there are just three different guide positions in the keyways but just one would provide for 8 different key combinations (with a centered guide). I'll help whomever will do the 3D printing. This explains alot
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I have one that is split in half will add picture later
This is the difference between original and a repro I have

I guess you sometimes have to do with what’s available. The repo key cylinders can be made to fit an original ignition switch housing. It takes a little time and patience. Being a part time locksmith among other things I learned from watching and helping the school locksmith working on lock fitment. Using small files to dress down the repo cylinders in the right places and trial and error to get the cylinder to fit will work. In the locksmith world T cylinders have wafers in stead of pins. Wafers are flat whereas pins are round. They do the same thing in a cylinder.
And no the repo cylinders aren’t the greatest but it’s better than nothing at all.

If the cylinders were made of brass or a good grade of hardened aluminum to original specs they would be much better than what the repos are made of. As always it’s about the cost to build them and if the builder would make enough to do it to make it worthwhile.

The only repop I have had experience with did not physically fit. In tyring to make good I found that the potmetal housing was way softer than the original more like lead than die-cast.
Allan from down under.