Ferrari Mailing List: Re: In need of headlight switch column/ 1981 308 GTSi

[Michel Savard (mysavard]

Headlight switch column problem solved.

Back in december. I wrote about my headlight turning off by themselves on the highway inadvertently. I let the car at my mechanic’s garage (the second one, the one with a 1981 308 GTSi too, not the real Ferrari mechanic back here in Montreal) and asked him to take a look. Turns out the long black plastic stick that goes into the steering column was cracked inside the column. He took it apart, put some epoxy and fix it and clean the rest all around. I haven’t had the chance to drive yet, but he assures me that was it.

Thank you to all who tried to help!

Michael Savard (1981 308 GTSi)

P.S.: Since he had the car, I asked him to change the belts. He tried all winter, still not finished and I know now I avoided DISASTER. That’s the next email.

On Dec 6, 2021, at 12:48 AM, Douglas Anderson <dnt [at] dock.net> wrote:

Peter notes “. . . and that grease dries out after several decades, causing plenty of functionality issues.”

 

Speaking of dried up grease and functionality issues - - check your accelerator box throttle pedal monkey motion if you have something similar to a 1978 308 GTS’s:

 

From a 2014 post:

 

“I recall when we first got our ’78 308 GTS I tried breaking and double clutching and shifting into the lower gear while setting up to make a right turn going into our neighborhood off of the semi busy main street.  (heh heh)  

 

Well - - - the throttle action was sooo stiff I ended up really trouncing the accelerator pedal - - - AND also hit the brake pedal ‘trounce hard’ at the same time.  This trick locked up the now light right front tire.  

 

This scene remits the following facts: 1) here comes Mr. Cool in his hot %^&^%$ Ferrari, rev rev 2) ScAAHHhreeeeech; 3) great clouds of smoke from the well worn, hard, ancient front Michelin XWX’s; and 4) a surprised, red faced driver who tries to recover, and creep home, un-noticed.

 

That settles it.  Pulled out the throttle pedal box monkey motion and found out what the stiff throttle problem was – the grease in the monkey motion throttle assembly was harder than a whore’s heart.  

 

Sort of pinkish crud.  Impervious to brake cleaner.  Mostly just the soap left – none if only little petroleum product left.  

 

Hmmm – soaked the assembly in alcohol and WD40 to free up the throttle axel.  Actually had to lightly tap out the pedal axel with a light hammer.  Lo and behold - - there are two needle bearing races!  They were so clogged with that pink crud the needles wouldn’t turn.  

 

Repairs done and some bicycle cable lube down the throttle cable – now we’re cookin’ but I never tried the double clutch and brake at the same time again in the Ferrari – pedals just don’t fit my foot pattern scenario.  I need more practice.”

 

Well as of today the assembly still works well.  I used SWEPCO Moly Lube in the foot box bearings and Justice Brothers chain lube in all the carburetor ball sockets.  The latter is a foaming penetrating oil that weasels into all the nooks and crannies.  When the super volatile liquid carrier evaporates it leaves a goodly coating of high tensile grease.  Good enough for a 50 hp motorcycle chain, good enough for my carb ball sockets.

 

Thus endeth the sermon.

 

Cheers

Doug

 

 

From: Ferrari <ferrari-bounces+dnt=dock.net [at] ferrarilist.com> On Behalf Of Peter Rychel
Sent: Sunday, December 5, 2021 12:04 AM
To: DOUG <dnt [at] dock.net>
Cc: ferrari <ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com>
Subject: Re: [Ferrari] In need of headlight switch column/ 1981 308 GTSi

 

Indeed. Most of the time, items like these have grease coating the pivot points for movable parts and that grease dries out after several decades, causing plenty of functionality issues. Although my switch functioned, I had it out when I replaced the steering wheel in my car (one of those “while I have this assembly apart, I might as well take the rest of the car apart”) and simply cleaned the whole unit and used fresh grease. Works way better now.

 

Peter

 

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Sent from Mail for Windows

 

 

From: Hans E. Hansen
Sent: December 4, 2021 4:55 PM
To: PeterGT4
Cc: ferrari
Subject: Re: [Ferrari] In need of headlight switch column/ 1981 308 GTSi

 

You need a mechanic, not a parts replacer. They are not hard to repair if you can find or fabricate the parts. Often headlight issues are caused by parts more in the stalk, not in the body of the switch. Just be careful not to lose the little ball bearing if you disassemble the stalk assembly. 

 

Hans. 

 

On Sat, Dec 4, 2021, 4:38 PM Michel Savard <mysavard [at] videotron.ca> wrote:

I thought these things were not repairable. At least that’s what my mechanic says.

Michael Savard (1981 308 GTSi)

 

On Dec 4, 2021, at 7:36 PM, Hans E. Hansen <FList [at] hanshansen.org> wrote:

 

Unobtainium supply was/is supplying rebuild parts.

 

Hans. 

 

On Sat, Dec 4, 2021, 12:32 PM Michel Savard <mysavard [at] videotron.ca> wrote:

Driving at night, I need to hold down the little black arm on the left of the steering column to keep the headlights on. Otherwise, the lights just keep going off. SCARY. I always need to put a little bit of pressure on that arm to keep them on. I could drive with the high beams on, but that’s not really a good idea in the long run.

Apparently, you can’t fix that without buying a new “steering column indicator headlight switch” (long name). They sell for well over $2,500 u.s. new.
Anybody has a used one that works fine ?
Any other solution ?

Thank you!

Michael Savard (1981 308 GTSi)
P.S.: I got all winter to find a reasonable solution.
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