Indicator Cancelling (or not!)

[Stagsongas]

Indicators that don't cancel seem to be a really common problem and something that can really annoy, especially when the repeater light is hidden behind the steering wheel. In the 70's, it seems that 'Ergonomics' meant little more than having the Steering Wheel fitted on the same side as the Pedals...!

Archive posts give text details, but a picture often speaks a 1000 words. Here are 3000 to make the cure clearer and quicker.

Stag Indicators1.jpg

To find out how well or how badly the cancelling system is set-up, just remove the steering wheel after first setting the road wheels dead straight ahead. In picture 1 above you can see the cancelling lever, arm or whatever you want to call it is way off position.

As the arm is only located on the inner column by two detent 'teeth' 180 deg. apart, it can only be fitted in two positions. I'm never that lucky to have the arm 180 deg. out, which is simple to deal with as you only have to dismount the arm and turn it around. What I normally find is similar to that shown in picture 1.

As the arm is in a more or less fixed position, a good way to put things right is to disconnect the steering column from the rack extension under the bonnet (pic 2 shown with bolt already removed) and then rotate the innner column to put the arm in the correct position.

Stag Indicators2.jpg

The steering column should then be dismounted from inside, allowing the inner column to be rotated and set up so the arm points to the 90 degree (or East if you like!) position as shown in pic. 3 below:

Stag Indicators3.jpg

Don't worry if you can't get the arm to point dead on 90 deg, you can only get as close to perfect as the rack extension splines will allow. Naturally the ideal position would be the direct opposite for cars with the indicators on the left.

When all is back together correctly. you should be rewarded with indicators that cancel perfectly.

Happy Cancelling!

Steve

[rac]

Had the same problem-not cancelling-after removing the plastic shrouds could see that the plastic arms on the switch that are hit by the cam were slightly short-just missing the cam-probably worn away so just fitted a cable tie to bring them nearer-sorted!!-as a extra measure put a bit of Vaseline on the cam/plastic arms hopefully to reduce the wear.

[Guest]

Fixed mine with a well place small cable tie, about 5 years ago. Cheap, that's my kind of fix!!

Jason

[rac]

[QUOTE=stagstan;284423]Fixed mine with a well place small cable tie, about 5 years ago. Cheap, that's my kind of fix!!

Jason[/QUOTE

Great minds think alike then ha ha!

[Mark Shutt]

thanks for this thread! awesome, would have never known, it's so annoying to be driving down the road 2 mins after cornering only to realize you left the indicator on

[Stagsongas]

thanks for this thread! awesome, would have never known, it's so annoying to be driving down the road 2 mins after cornering only to realize you left the indicator on

Mark,

That was happening to me too. I fitted green LED repeater lamps in place of my seatbelt light as recommended by other forumites, and that goes part-way to solving the problem. Until we get a Summer (at last!!) and the hood is down, the light from above and behind is bright. You can't see them then!

I'm trying to resist a Beep Beep thingy as that can annoy too. Getting the cancelling arm to work reliably has changed the car for me, another annoying niggle dispensed with.

So.....on to the next niggle. Stags and niggles seem to go hand in hand - Maybe they are Stiggles

Regards

Steve

[Stagsongas]

[QUOTE=rac;284420]Had the same problem-not cancelling-after removing the plastic shrouds could see that the plastic arms on the switch that are hit by the cam were slightly short-just missing the cam-probably worn away so just fitted a cable tie to bring them nearer-sorted!!-as a extra measure put a bit of Vaseline on the cam/plastic arms hopefully to reduce the wear.[/QUOTE

Good repair on the worn plastic arms, right up my street. If you can get more use out of something that's better than replacement in many ways, especially in this so-called modern, wasteful world.

Regards

Steve

[73stagman]

I keep my fingers on the indicator stalk and let them cancel it when the steering wheel comes straight again! Well some of the time!!! LOL

[Stagsongas]

I keep my fingers on the indicator stalk and let them cancel it when the steering wheel comes straight again! Well some of the time!!! LOL

Nothing is perfect.

I'll come to rely on the working cancel function. Then, one day, it'll let me down. Maybe your way is better or I still need a beepy box just to keep me aware.

Regards

Steve

[73stagman]

The real one sometimes works and other time it doesn't suggesting that the clip is moving on the column.... so the fingers have to do the job.. such is life!

[Stagsongas]

I found that problem with mine, and cured it.

The inner column had pushed back on the sliding part, which pushed the clip upward slightly off its detent 'teeth'. When the adjustable column bush (they don't all have that) was readjusted, the teeth engaged properly in the holes once more. Maybe you'll get lucky.

[73stagman]

I found that problem with mine, and cured it.

The inner column had pushed back on the sliding part, which pushed the clip upward slightly off its detent 'teeth'. When the column bush (they don't all have that) was readjusted, the teeth engaged properly in the holes once more. Maybe you'll get lucky.

I'll probably leave it! Other things will take priority.. oil temp and pressure for one! (Except thats two..)

[Paul Goldsmith]

Many thanks for such a thorough original post, really helpful - perhaps worth considering for the technical section too.

[Stagsongas]

I'll probably leave it! Other things will take priority.. oil temp and pressure for one! (Except thats two..)

To check for that problem (and fix it if your're lucky) all you need do is remove the sterring wheel and adjust the top bush.

Good Luck

Steve