The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Ignition switch with 4 contacts?

Hello,

My new electrical harness gives directions on how to connect to an ignition switch with two contacts. But mine has 4 contacts, two on the top and two on the bottom.

Does anyone know how I wire this? Is there a standard for switches with 4 contacts?

I have a 1953 3100.

Thanks,
Steven

The original switch had 2 leads - a hot-in and and an out to the coil.

You will have to use a continuity tester to determine the purpose of each connection/lead on your "non-standard" switch.

Do you have a mechanical/foot-actuated starter?
Do you have an original 6v system or a 12v conversion?

Tim, I have a mechanical foot starter with a 6 volt system.

I tried to take the starter switch off the panel using tech tips, and it so 'on there' that it is bending the key.

using the key is to remove the lock cylinder from the switch body, taking the switch off the dash requires removing the retainer, maybe screws like a 54? that tech tip was written by a 37 owner

sounds like the switch you got is a 'generic' type, as Tim says, you'll need to use an ohmmeter to figure what each terminal does, if there's a center pin that should be the battery +, if the switch has a spring loaded position there will be an unused terminal for that 'key start' function, another will be ignition when on and the other may be an accessory power terminal - ignition and accessory should be interchangeable and only show continuity when the key is on

Bill

The last "generic" switch I put in had, 1, battery. 2, Accessory, (used to run the radio when the engine was off most likely). 3, Run, (every thing was on). And 4, Start, to the solenoid or for the Ford and Jeep types, Starter Relay. Most are labeled but not all. Use an Ohm meter to figure what is what. And.. red58 told you that already.