On the key...
... And ready to hit the laneses
EX-MILITARY Land Rovers – or at least my ex-military 110 V8 soft top – do not have a conventional ignition switch and steering lock assembly. Instead, mine had an electrical ignition switch with no steering lock, in the usual location. Before I rebuilt the 110 a couple of years ago, the ignition switch failed and I replaced it with a Massey Ferguson switch I had to hand – the one with the all-familiar Lucas key, that any classic tractor driver will be familiar with. This worked, but was not ideal; started by a common key that is easy to get hold of, no steering lock and a soft top is not a secure mix. Luckily, in Co Donegal where the Land Rover is kept, there isn’t much petty or vehicle crime.
The trouble was, the replacement ignition switch wasn’t very tight in its special mounting and had a tendency to turn with the key. I had a new conventional switch assembly at the ready, but hadn’t taken the time to fit it. Consequently, with the Lucas switch turning, the electrical connections finally let go and the Land Rover wouldn’t start. So it was time to fit the new ignition switch and lock, if I wanted to enjoy my 110 soft-top of a weekend, on the lanes of Donegal. Oh yes, the indicators had packed up, too.
When I removed the plastic shroud from the steering column, I could see that the simple switch was mounted in a bolt-on bracket around the steering column. It was fiddly to remove, but once I got it off, I could see that underneath was a standard steering column – my ‘civilian’ ignition switch would fit perfectly. I soon had the new switch trial fitted and the sound of the V8 engine turning over and starting up brought a smile to my face! Having planned to simply check it out for a proper fitting on my next visit I couldn’t wait – I fitted the new assembly properly and put the steering column back together again.
Electrical gremlins can be a real pain and take up lots of time to trace and repair, but experience told me that problems with the indicators on a Land Rover is very often down to a faulty hazard warning switch. But my hazard lights worked fine – the indicators were dead. I fitted a new genuine hazard switch (which I had brought to Donegal in anticipation) and it was time for another grin – my indicators were back in business... Hoorah!
With an engine that starts and runs beautifully, indicators and lights functioning as they should, petrol in the tank – it was the perfect excuse to take the 110 V8 out for a run? Except for the soft tyres. The Land Rover had been sitting unused for a few months, and so two of the tyres were low on air pressure. My portable air compressor soon had this minor problem solved and me and my 110 took to the road.
I had forgotten how wonderful the V8 sounds through its special stainless steel exhaust system – it’s a joy to the ears of any petrolhead – and the engine itself runs ever so sweetly, which is not unexpected, given it has only covered just over 50,000 kilometres from the day it left Solihull (albeit some of those miles were tough back in its off-roading days). The run out in the 110 was short, because it was getting late in the day and time to head back to reality, but really enjoyable – I was so tempted to take to one of the lanes.
But the good news is that the next time I head up to my bolt-hole in Co Donegal, the 110 V8 will be on the key and ready to hit the lanes – and my little solar panel is keeping the battery tip top and ready.