Dash Rheostat Seized - Any tips?

[72BLUE]

My Lucas rheostat that supposedly dims the instrumentation lighting is seized solid.

Had a search on the forum but could not find anything, do they free off or is it futile to even try?

Tried a drop of Plus Gas but no joy so far..............

Cheers
Keith

[jleyton]

I'd suggest connecting the wires and bypassing the rheostat to give you dash lights that are bright enough to read - that's what I've done.

Cheers

Julian

[72BLUE]

Yes Julian, perhaps the best option, I have a 4 way connector splice on atm.

Cheers
Keith

[jleyton]

Yep, I reckon the standard rheostat is pretty much a waste of time - only adjusting lights from dim to off

Cheers

Julian

[MissMoppet]

Do I take it then that bypassing the rheostat makes them brighter? I have worked out that first click to right is as bright as it will go, then further turning dims to less than a glow-worm on a good day.

[jleyton]

Unfortunately it won't make them significantly brighter but it will mean that they are permanently at the 'brightest' setting. I suggested it because Keith's rheostat was playing up anyway.

I took mine out because I was tidying up all of the dash wiring and I reckoned it didn't serve any useful purpose.

Cheers

Julian

[V Mad]

I have bypassed mine. But then I have a Mk1 which is even dimmer.

[SaskStag]

Hi
Can I use a 4 way crimp joint to bypass the rheaostat? I have the dash apart and am trying to tidy up the wiring and put my new clock in, new chrome bezels and sort out dfarned rev counter (Alan - help! See PM). then I spied the rheostat looking dirty and begging to be removed or upgraded.
Sorry, crimping and 'lektrics also a new artform i am learning
Tanya

[ChasR]

Soaking it in Plus gas should eventually free it. But as said the lights can be made slightly brighter by bypassing it altogether.

[72BLUE]

Here you go Tanya, I used one of these....

http://www.autosparks.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=3887

Cheers
Keith

[SaskStag]

Thanks Keith! Interesting site and explains why I'm having a tough time trying to find electrical parts over here to fit! There aren't any and I'm having to improvise! The connector you indicate looks simple to use, I was going to use:

http://crimpsupply.com/connectors/3-way-4-way-terminals?gclid=CLr1qbr53rMCFexAMgod1VUAGw

Cheers
Tanya

[Dieter H. Marschall]

My Lucas rheostat that supposedly dims the instrumentation lighting is seized solid.

Had a search on the forum but could not find anything, do they free off or is it futile to even try?

Tried a drop of Plus Gas but no joy so far..............

Cheers
Keith

Hello Keith,
these rheostats are simply a design, which is bound to fail. A TR friend here in Germany (a retired electronics engineer) builds new ones with modern parts, which can simply be built into the old place (€ 35.00 - no exchange). He also builds electronic voltage stabilizers into old housings (€ 16.00 - exchange).
Here are his contact details: Klaus Koppel
Tel.: 0049-2366-82352
Email: klauspkoppel@cityweb.de

Kind regards,
Dieter.

[brian0443]

Hi everyone, bypassing the rheostat will make things brighter, and is also a safe and simple modification, especially if you have a stuck switch. If you are trying to improve the lighting don't blame it all on a forty year old switch. Replacing my forty year old well blackened bulbs and cleaning all the contacts on the instruments made such an improvement that I left the rheostat in place.
Brian