Morris Minor Owners Club

When I got my Minor in 1989 it already had an electric Trico washer pump and a momentary toggle switch where the manual washer plunger would have been. Over the years almost all of the parts of the washer system have failed and have had to be replaced. I did consider going back to the manual pump but removing the electric pump on the bulkhead would have left empty screw holes and I didn't like that idea. I suppose I could have put the screws back in the holes once the pump was removed.

Yesterday the toggle switch finally gave up. It is plastic switch and I would probably break it if I tried to take it apart. I presume it came as part of a Trico kit with the electric pump many years ago.

ESM sell a Lucas long paddle monetary on toggle switch SPB365 so I bought one of them. When I went to fit it, I realised that the hole in the dashboard is much larger than the diameter of the threaded section of the switch. This could have been a problem but I then realised the old plastic switch was also too small for the hole in the dashboard but had a plastic reducing bush specially designed to fit the original dashboard hole. These kits must have been specifically designed to replace the manual pumps as the reducing bush fits the hole perfectly. Had I not had this bush perhaps I could have used a suitable washer but it would not have been as secure.

Just a curiosity really.

Stephen

Such reducer bushes were quite common back in the day with aftermarket replacement switches.

geoberni wrote: ↑Fri Jul 17, 2026 10:30 am Such reducer bushes were quite common back in the day with aftermarket replacement switches.

Yes but I notice they are very difficult to find now. ESM sell the toggle switch but no adapter/reducer bush/top-hat washer. I am sure many customers have been a bit irritated when they find the panel hole is too big. There are various bodges with insulating tape, washers etc and some will have the skills to make a bush on a lathe with a step so it fits into the panel hole from the reverse side but most people will not have the skills or equipment to do this.

Stephen