VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 Ignition Switch Questionos

I have a question, the subject of which many of you may deem simple, but since I'm not sure of the answer I'm going to post it anyway.

I don't seem to have an ignition switch, to try to start the car I'm simply pushing the floor button (referred to as a starting switch?). The engine turns over but I haven't had any luck with it starting as of yet. Is this button on the floor board considered the switch? and if it's not what is the purpose of an additional switch? I thought the '25s had an ignition switch with a key, but mine is MIA (along with my speedo).

It is not like a modern car where the ignition switch does everything.

The foot switch only activates the starter. You will need a single separate switch, can be a toggle switch, between the battery, ammeter, coil and points. In most cases the "ignition" switch is between the ammeter and the coil. There should be a connection between the positive battery post and ammeter. The other post on the ammeter connected to a switch and then from the switch to the positive post on the coil. Finally a connection to the points in the distributor.

the fact that I don't have an ignition switch right now, does that mean that the car won't start until I get one? How can I bypass it?

Just remove the switch from the connections given in the previous message. However without a switch or removing a wire it can be a problem to shut off the engine when it starts. Guess you could kill the engine by putting in gear and let out the clutch with rear wheels braked or kept from rolling.