Nacelle headlight switch retainer

[gold33]

G'Day all,

On my ride the headlight switch retainer (decagon spring) decided to go AWOL.
The fit was never fantastic. What retainer is supposed to be used?

[LJ.]

I *think* there might be a right and wrong way up in fitting this retainer... I'm not entirely sure.

[gold33]

Thanks LJ,

Tried both ways, it would only sit in one way but I understand what you mean.
I am going to make up a bracket and use the unused terminal positions to screw it down and hold it in place.

[Brian]

Be carefull doing that Darren, you need to be sure the terminals you use dont become active at any stage of the switches operation.

Those wire clips usually work ok even though they can be a bit difficult to fit.  Its hard to describe but the curve goes up so it pushes the switch down, the two ends of the wire clip should be in the small half round groove in the switch.

The aftermarket ones you can buy are usually not much good, try and find an original if at all possible.

[gold33]

Thanks Brian,
The one I have is definitely after market and won't sit in the groove in enough places to work.
I was going to isolate the bracket as well as the switch contact on the poles used for the bracket to avoid problems when turning the switch too far.
I might try to find an original clip.

[shabashow]

I gave up trying to fiddle about with the wire holder, as like you gold33, it never fitted that good and was a right skitter. I ditched it and used a couple of spots of araldite to hold the switch in. The switch fitted good in the hole and doesn't move side to side, the spots of resin are only used to stop it popping out of the hole, so doesn;t have much pressure on it. A few carefully aimed taps should loosen the grip of the hardened araldite it if I ever need to remove the switch.
John

[wilko]

Silicone works too!

[bsa- bill]

I had loads of trouble getting that clip to work with the switch supplied with the headlamp, but the switch was minus the rocker bit at the top and the little arm to centre do da, took me a while to work out this was the reason I couldn't get it wired up to work  ) also bits of the base of the switch broke off, bought a new switch from Paul Goff, lights worked as they should and clip fitted fine