Push button ignition

Hi everyone,

I have an old 440 and just recently the ignition barrel decided to break. It all appears fine however when you turn it to start the engine, nothing happens (all lights and so on work fine). For a while beforehand it was a little tricky, you had to push the key in hard and wiggle it to turn over. I guessed this was a dirty or broken contact.

Anyway, I removed the steering column cover and have put in a place a momentary push button switch to start the beast. I still have to put the key in as normall and turn on the elecrtics, but to start I just push the button (just like in my Ferrari...).

Now... will this kind or arrangement go through an M.O.T.? Do I need to follow any guidelines before making this a permanant arrangement? I was wondering if I need an 'arm' switch, so the push button can be 'disabled' for normall driving so it can't be accidently engaged.

I hope this is the right forum to post this message, if not many appologies.

Alex

[Pedro Fandango]

no thats fine i've done it on mine. I believe there is a rule that a key has to be used as part of the engine running (which you have on the ignition), i heard this was brought in something could be done against joyriders who blackbox cars

Originally Posted by Pedro Fandango

no thats fine i've done it on mine....

And did yours get through its MOT OK? Did you have to give them instructions on how to start it ?!

[Pedro Fandango]

Originally Posted by alexhitchins

And did yours get through its MOT OK? Did you have to give them instructions on how to start it ?!

yeh they didn't even question it, i have to point it out to everyone (i normally give them 5 minutes trying to start it by the key, then point out the big button with "START" written on it in blue neon lol)