popout switch question

Billmc52

Member
I have a 28 Phaeton with a popout switch. Several times after I have turned it off and removed the key, I have noticed the switch is poped out, which I assume is in the on position even though the key is removed. I put the key in and push it in until the switch in and I assume is off. My question is what will happen if I fail to notice this and the switch is left on, poped out, for any period of time? Dead battery or more problems? And is the solution to rebuild the switch? Thanks for any info.

Bill
 
Yes, to properly shut off the ignition you need to push in the switch. What you will find happen if you leave it out is one of two or three things. One possibility is "nothing" if the points happen to be open when the engine comes to a stop. If the points are "almost closed", very likely you will find them "fried", --or the other possibility is the energy draw through the coil and to ground will deplete the charge in the battery. Now to make this controvercial, if you have a generator, you can likely wipe the points clean with a piece of sandpaper and then 'roll start' it. If you have an alternator, you can call AAA, ...or find another battery to boost it off to get you going again.
 
I saw a repro coil go from good to bad when the key was left on for 25 minutes. I don't know how long it would take to kill an original coil, but most likely it would be less than an hour. As Brent said, that's if the points happen to be closed when the key is left on.
 
Um, how are you going to stop the motor with the popout in the out position? The purpose of a popout is to push it in to kill the motor. BTW, no key required to push the popout in.
 
Let me offer one more suggestion. There is a gentleman named Dick Crabtree that many of us have used to rebuild Pop-out Switches. I can personally vouch for his credibilty & craftsmanship. If I were in your shoes, I would send him yours --or if yours is not an original, I would purchase one outright from him. You can find what he has listed on eBay by Clicking Here.
 
It pops out on its own after I turn it off and remove the key.

How a popout is supposed to work is:

1) Popout in the IN position and car off
2) Insert key, turn and now it's in the OUT position(contact is open)
3) Car may be started
4) Key may be removed while driving the car
5) Push to IN position to stop car(contact is closed and coil is shorted out)

Does your popout say Electrolox or have a B surrounded by a diamond on the back? If so it may be an original.

Does it say "Made in Spain" or have a key with a number from 0-9 on it? If so a reproduction. There are other reproductions as well. All look like an original but the other reproductions don't have Electrolox or have a B surrounded by a diamond on the back.

IMHO the reproductions of the 30/31 popouts are every good as the originals. Some were replacements from a long time ago and others are from the 70s. I've seen the inside of most of the reproductions. Both originals and reproductions have a flimsy copper contact inside.

The original 30/31 design is not as good as the 28/29 design. The 28/29 have not been reproduced.

I can also vouch for Dick. I've been to his Houston warehouse and he came to my house in Beaumont one time. He up and retired and moved to South Dakota though! Kind of a reverse Sunbelt migration. Dick can restore an original. He doesn't fool with reproductions(he sold me a bunch of "Made in Spain" parts!

Here is an original box from a very old repro popout:
PilotPopout.jpg
 
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