The 'E' Type Forum

The handbrake switch parts were missing from my car. I've purchased the bracket, switch and spring and it looked fairly obvious how it goes together.
However I haven't been able to set it up so the switch is pressed when the handbrake is fully released.

The photo below is how I think it should be set up, although I think it would better using half nuts to fix the spring.

It looks in the photo that the outer locking nut is stopping the spring pressing the switch but this isn't the problem - it can (just) depress the plunger far enough to operate the switch.

The problem is the 'finger' protrusion of the handbrake only just brushes the spring and doesn't push it against the switch.

Does the set-up look correct? The only option I can see is to elongate the bracket hole to move the switch towards the finger.




Thanks,
Chris

Chris, you have too many nuts and yes, they should be half. Look at my site for the 6th June, there is a photo of the handbrake switch.

Angus,

Thanks for the quick response. I had been scouring your later photos of the handbrake rebuild but not spotted the earlier one. It has been puzzling me as the parts list indicates only two nuts as you correctly pointed out. The problem was that the photo above was with the handbrake fully released.

I've been going backwards and forwards between your photo and the one below and still couldn't see where I'd gone wrong - the geometry is fixed.



Eventually I noticed the length of my cable fork is much longer and then I spotted the alarming difference. My handbrake has been hacked about. The bracket attachment has been cut off and welded further back. As it has come off the car I assumed it was correct but it now explains why the car hadn't the switching parts fitted!

Gutted - having had all the parts plated and the ratchet teeth are all in good condition. I'm tempted to keep as is and adapt the bracket, although it'll bug me now!

Chris

This due to the incorrect handbrake cable that was available for many years (and I think still is) - Is it the jag enthusiasts club that offers the correct one ? You can modify the wrong one by cutting down the fork end and re-drilling - looks like someone has gone the wrong way with trying to get round the problem on yours.

regards Barrie

The incorrect cables prevented the handbrake from working correctly but the switch has nothing to do with the cable as it is actuated by the lever itself when fully off and the cable is no longer in play.

Yes Pete, but it looks like the welded on bracket for the abutment of the cable and the mounting of the switch has been moved back to accommodate the longer fork end - possibly too far ?

regards Barrie

Thanks all for your responses. It looks like I have two issues. The first to get the warning light switch to work but more importantly to get the handbrake set up correctly.

So I've ordered a new cable from JEC which will hopefully get the handbrake to operate correctly.

I'm going to work with what I've got regarding the handbrake lever rather than re-weld it in the correct position. I think I might be able to extend the holes in the switch bracket so it can be moved forward 2-3mm - that might be enough. Although it will be a bit of a hairpin trigger and the light will come on in as soon as the handbrake level is lifted.

Chris