a smooth switching indicator stalk, finally

[alexandervdr]

I got my 86 Targa end of summer, and I still have the feeling as if I am torturing the car when manipulating the indicator stalk. Especially the return to zero feels as if I am in a fight with plastics close to breaking apart.

In another thread other members reassured me that this was not just my car, but a 'feature' of most 911s of the era.

My plan to open up the switch and see if something could be done to it came to a halt when I discovered that the whole assembly is riveted together. Taking it apart did not guarantee I could get it back together.

So I bought a new spare for a more or less reasonable 140 Euro to see if I could get it to work the way I want. Well , I did! It now switches very smoothly and only needs a fingertip to put it back to neutral.

It's not for the faint of heart though, there are springs and parts that have a desire to fly away when dissembling. Putting things back together is equally challenging. The rivets were drilled out with a 2mm drill, and for assembly replaced with 2mm nut/bolt. All in all it took me the bigger part of an afternoon.



on the left are the drilled out rivets, on the right some smaller parts including a tiny axle that you better take out before losing it



the contact plate with a small spring , again ready to fly away.





a very clever system, the tip of the swivelling arms lock the stalk when in L/R position.



in this area are the slots that lock-in with the tips of the swivelling arms



and finally, this is what needs to be done. I blackened the areas to change. On the right is the original, on the left the modified plastics. As you can see, the left extrusion is made shorter (less than a mm!). Obviously this needs to be done on the yellow side too. I cut it with a sharp hobby knife, in 4 iterations where I took a tiny slice off till I got the right feel. If you go too far, the stalk will no longer hold, so be careful.



reassembly is a challenge. In this picture I keep the contact springs in position with a thin copper foil that I slid out once the assembly was softly screwed together before tightening up..

I can't wait to put it in the car an have a stalk with a smoothness that is in tune with the smoothness of the fabulous flat 6

[sugarwood]

and if that shaved down lob wears down over time from use ?

But, nice effort on the write up. Almost nonexistent on this forum.

[alexandervdr]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

and if that shaved down lob wears down over time from use ?

But, nice effort on the write up. Almost nonexistent on this forum.

I think I will be dead by then More seriously, cause the pressure and friction is made substantially lower now, I actually anticipate less wear over time than on the original.

The way I make write ups is a means to give back to the forum for what it gives to all of us

[Solamar]

Well done!

I hate it when I accidentally move the stalk past the detents when changing lanes. That 'snap' to re-center really does feel like your about to break something. I do my best to change lanes with just slight finger pressure on the indicator stalk.

The re-set works brilliantly when making a complete turn, not so much with lane changes...

[Nick Triesch]

I just use the finger touch when making a turn and just hold it. Not a big deal and better than hearing that loud plastic clack!!!

[famoroso]

Apart from the WW2 era electrical system and the Rube Goldberg Contraption power top mechanism, the turn signal manual return to zero is the thing I like least about G Body 911s.

I accidentally sprayed the inner workings of my switch with a large shot of DeoxIT D5 electrical contact cleaner. It acted as a bit of a lubricant and made the action noticably smoother. An easy / inexpensive quasi-solution.

I'm tempted to try an actual spray lubricant, like Breakfree CLP (one of my all time favs) or Boeshield t-9 (I've heard great things), but I'm concerned that it may swell / warp / adversely affect the plastic housing.

I too avoid fully engaging the turn signal for a lane change and curse myself when I mistakenly do so. If space allows, I'll make a large enough steering wheel input & return so as to automatically cancel the turn signal in a bid to avoid the dreaded manual turnsignal cancellation. One of the less endearing foibles of classic 911 ownership.

[icarp]

I love it ! well done , I thought I was the only one that obsessed over the feel and sound of the stalk in manual cancel mode . I looks like you cut the nub on an angle , is this required for success
or a moot point . Thanks for sharing and writing this up.
Ian

[alexandervdr]

Originally Posted by icarp

I love it ! well done , I thought I was the only one that obsessed over the feel and sound of the stalk in manual cancel mode . I looks like you cut the nub on an angle , is this required for success
or a moot point . Thanks for sharing and writing this up.
Ian

Tnx! The angle is there to leave as much material as possible for strength. The side 2 length is what determines how hard or soft the manual return feels. The 1 side is just support material for the forces exercised on side 2, so I kept that about as original.

[archstanton]

Very nicely presented. Thank you.

[alexandervdr]

today, I mounted the stalk in the car (1 1/2 hr job) and went out for a drive. It may sound ridiculous and tight a... to most, but the soft feel while manipulating the indicator is so much better. It returns to neutral with just a touch of my little vinger.