@rust_roses: 🚦 MURIEL’S TRAFFICATORS ARE ALIVE! 🚦 Day 42 This is one of those little moments that makes me ridiculously happy… Muriel’s semaphore trafficators are working! 😍 For anyone wondering what on earth a trafficator is, before flashing indicators became the norm, cars like Muriel used these wonderful little illuminated arms that pop out of the side of the car to tell everyone which way you’re turning. And I’ve been doing some homework. 📚🔧 My old workshop information shows exactly how Muriel’s SF80/SE100 type trafficators were wired. They’re beautifully simple: power comes from the A4 fuse, through the steering-column switch and out to each trafficator. When selected, the solenoid is energised to lift the arm, while the little bulb illuminates at the same time. And there’s something particularly interesting in the manual: 👉 The trafficator earths through its frame into the body of the car. The manual actually warns that poor earth connections can cause “considerable trouble” — which is definitely worth remembering when I eventually put all of Muriel’s electrics back together! It even tells you how to look after them: SF80 and SE100 trafficators only need an occasional drop of SAE 30 oil on the pivot bearing. No drowning them in WD40! 😂 I know modern indicators are infinitely more practical, but watching that tiny arm clunk up and light up after nearly 70 years is just brilliant. There was absolutely no way Muriel was losing these. 💗 Who remembers cars actually using trafficators on the road? And who has never seen one working before? 🌹🔧 Rust & Roses Workshop Keeping the wonderfully unnecessary bits of old cars alive.
