S2 restoration questions

[RHaughton]

Hi guys, first post here

I'm currently in the process of doing a partial restoration on a 1959 109" (partial as I am not delving too deep for fear of what I might find when I have limited skills) and am trying to get it back to mostly original. At present, I have two questions:

1.
What did the wiper motors look like on a 1958 S2 and where were they mounted and operated from?

2.
I understand that an S2 of this vintage was not originally fitted with indicators, however it has rather bodgily been fitted with some since that I am keen to replace. I want to keep the indicators but change how it looks in the cab, to something a bit more ergonomic and good looking. What's everyone's personal opinion on what I should do? Attached is a bad picture of what the current set up looks like.


Appreciate any opinions, big thanks

[diffwhine]

There are others far better qualified than I to answer your indicator question although it looks like somebody has used something from a scrap yard and made fit. Arguably it could be said to be part of the vehicle's history and kept as is. I think at that age it was a dash mounted vacuum self correcting switch rather than the Tex Magna fitted to later 2A vehicles.

I'm pretty sure your wiper motor(s) would have been Lucas FW2 motors. As standard there would have been one for the driver with an option to fit a second one for the passenger or a blanking plate. They were powered with an ignition green wire to each motor and switched actually on the motor themselves. They fitted through holes in the lower windscreen frame.

[RHaughton]

Thanks diffwine - I agree about the existing switch, awful piece of work. It isn't even wired correctly so that left is right and right is left! Would anyone have any photos of the vacuum switch mounted please? Would the Lucas motors be mounted the same as in an S1 please?

Many thanks

[autorover1]

This is the part , fits on an additional panel next to the instruments  . It is also in the LR optional equipment parts book in the member section

[TimV]

Looks like the switch that was in my 1954 Morris Minor.

[Peter Holden]

The vac operated switch is not egonomic.  I dont know when it was first introduced but land rover also offered the Tex Magna steering column mounted indicator switch

Peter

[Uffddd]

My 1959 has that same Lucas indicator switch except it's mounted on the same bracket as the horn on the steering column.

As for wired backwards, does that mean when it points to the right it indicates left? Because that would mean you twist the switch left (anticlockwise). It's possible that a past owner just found that way more intuitive.

[RHaughton]

That's it - and then the flash on the switch is very temperamental.

[USY561]

I have the same Lucas switch, but mounted differently.  You can see from the picture  which also shows the correct wiper motor (ignore the cable ties etc, this is mid restoration!

[Clifford Pope]

As for wired backwards, does that mean when it points to the right it indicates left? Because that would mean you twist the switch left (anticlockwise). It's possible that a past owner just found that way more intuitive.

That was the standard way of orientating electrical switches in general. There was often a very small pointer at the top, and a longer tail at the bottom to make it easier to turn. The error is in modern thinking which assumes that the long bit must be a pointer.

[RHaughton]

As for wired backwards, does that mean when it points to the right it indicates left? Because that would mean you twist the switch left (anticlockwise). It's possible that a past owner just found that way more intuitive.

That was the standard way of orientating electrical switches in general. There was often a very small pointer at the top, and a longer tail at the bottom to make it easier to turn. The error is in modern thinking which assumes that the long bit must be a pointer.

Thanks, that explains it.

[RHaughton]

I have the same Lucas switch, but mounted differently.  You can see from the picture  which also shows the correct wiper motor (ignore the cable ties etc, this is mid restoration!

Looks great. How are you doing the demister vents?

[Calum]

As for wired backwards, does that mean when it points to the right it indicates left? Because that would mean you twist the switch left (anticlockwise). It's possible that a past owner just found that way more intuitive.

That was the standard way of orientating electrical switches in general. There was often a very small pointer at the top, and a longer tail at the bottom to make it easier to turn. The error is in modern thinking which assumes that the long bit must be a pointer.

Generally correct on 'chicken head' switches, but the indicator/trafficator switches as shown in this thread only have the long portion at the bottom and this is pushed to the desired direction on these (I.e. push to the left/turn clockwise for a left turn signal). I have exactly the same vacuum switch in my Austin A40 and that is how it too is wired.

[USY561]

I have the same Lucas switch, but mounted differently.  You can see from the picture  which also shows the correct wiper motor (ignore the cable ties etc, this is mid restoration!

Looks great. How are you doing the demister vents?

Vents are back in now with refurbished winders and new seals

[Old Hywel]

Thanks diffwine - I agree about the existing switch, awful piece of work. It isn't even wired correctly so that left is right and right is left!

Turn it upside down, then the handle points correctly.