New rule change on electric fuel pumps.

[Geo]

The size bump to trigger the fuel inertia switch is different and ususally lower than the air bag bump (crash).

The Jaguar ones I have tested, you pull the button on the top out (up) to open circuit (stop running) and push down to close circuit (running).

Geo

[landsendlynda]

hit something....   

[Rick Byrnes]

I'll write it here too
The impact to trip the ford inertia switch is higher than push truck.
I have them on every vehicle including every push truck I have had.
How many EFI vehicles have you ever seen on the road that had a false inertia switch activation.   The Ford and I'll bet every one made is very simple and has extremely high reliability.

I have had  on the Merkur, Lakester/and liner, and since racing in 1984 have not seen an accidental activation. (in drag racing or Bonneville) OH, the Fusion had one too.  We had more trouble with H2 sensors being set too sensitive to protect me.....We actually had two runs aborted for false H2 automatic shutdowns.

As I said before, I think SCTA will not tell us what to use, but will look for the presence and correct application and wiring.
Mount like OEM does and it will work well.  They simply screw to sheet metal.
If you look at the design, it is simply a steel ball that is dislodged from a spring loaded recess.  Very simple device that works quite well.

They work primarily in forward/aft direction but I have seen a car skid sideways hit a guard rail with the right rear quarter and trip the switch which was in the same area as impact.

Don't worry, be happy.
This too is something for us to be more safe while pursuing our passion.

[Beairsto Racing]

The Hayabusa has a "tip over switch". Do any other bikes incorporate this?

-Scott

[saltwheels262]

harley touring bikes have a tipover switch; don't know about other hd models.

franey

[Stainless1]

I guess we will see if the parachute pop is enough to trip one... are we ready for cars not clearing the course because the motor is shut down   
I guess the positive side of that is it will be easier to get a hot shut down plug reading....

[Dean Los Angeles]

Neither NAPA switch looks like a an inertia switch. An inertia switch has a reset button, and there isn't one in either picture.

You must demonstate fuctionality

Interesting since no one seems to have any idea what that will take.

I use an electric pump to prime the injectors. The pump is only used to start the motor. Will I need this switch?

There is no qualification in the rule. Everybody with an electric fuel pump has to run one. What if the prime switch got hit in an accident?

They work primarily in forward/aft direction

I would disagree with that. The socket for the ball is circular with no directionality.

Found this quote on a forum:

If I need to test one at work, I simply hit the side of the switch with my hand, and voila!, it trips the switch. It's the force of an impact that trips it.

Ford Certified technician
ASE Master Certified technician
Ford Certified Diesel Specialist
19 years experience

I checked the DOT Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and the only thing I could find was 571.301 Standard No. 301; Fuel system integrity. It says that at a front impact of up to 48 km/h (29.8 mph) and a side impact of 32 km/h (19.8 mph) you can't leak more than a certain amount. Nothing about inertia switches or the force required.

I'm going to guess that the automotive manufacturers looked at test data for normal driving, including bouncing over curbs and things like that, and set the force just slightly higher.

[RichFox]

Dean; Are you speaking for the SCTA here?

[Morpheus]

A "cute" trick our better garages devised.... walk thru mall parking lots with a rubber mallet. Smack 1/4 panel & viola... off goes the switch. No dents or marks, really easy to do with the trunk mounted ones.

Cruise thru parking lot & make lots of moo-la, especially during this time of the year.... fixing those darned computor controls !

[Dean Los Angeles]

Dean; Are you speaking for the SCTA here?

Hoo Ha Ha! That's a good one! Nope, I'm a Sidewinders member and keep track of the goings-on. I'm just really opinionated!

Postings show up here because the rules are vague: "what's an inertia switch?", "where do I get one?", "what's the threshold criteria?", "How do I test it?", "Will it go off from a push truck bump?"

We kick stuff around here and try to get a handle on what's really required. I didn't know cars had an inertia switch until this came up. I did a lot of searching on the internet to try and find out. I don't need one on my bike, but this is all interesting stuff.

I believe Dan Warner was speaking for the SCTA when he said "You must demonstate fuctionality." His spelling, not mine! That added a whole new set of problems beyond just figuring out where to get one and how to install it.

Speaking for the SCTA? Here is the list from the SCTA web site. I think Dan Warner is the only one that posts here on a regular basis.

President    Roy Creel
Vice President    Don Ferguson III
Secretary    Warren Bullis
Treasurer    Judy Sights
Sergeant at Arms    Bobby Sykes
Communications    Mike Manghelli
Motorcycle Committee Chair    Van Butler
Chief Motorcycle Inspector    Tom Evans
Chief Car Inspector    Alan Fogliadini
Past President    Jim Lattin
Chief Starter    Jim Jensen
Chief Timer    Frank Scott
BLM Liaison     Chuck Kalbach
Media Liaison    Greg & JoAnn Carlson
Merchandise, Mail Order    Penny Cook
El Mirage Maintenance, Club Liaison
Rules & Record Certification    Dan Warner
Car Technical Co-Chair    Lee Kennedy
Advisory Board Members
     Keith Allen              
     Van Butler              
     Ron Cohn              
     Steve Davies              
     Ron Main              
     BNI Board              
     Eric Eyres              
     Doug Robinson              
     Matt Williams              
     Larry Burford              
     Fred Dannenfelzer              
     Mike Ferguson              
     Dave Kirsch              
     Dan Neuenschwander              
     "Miler" Mike Stewart              
     Dana Wilson              
BNI Board Members
Chairman    Mike Waters
Vice Chairman    Roy Creel
Secretary    Don Ferguson III
Treasurer    Steve Toller
Board    Mike Cook
Board    Jim Dunn
Board    Russ Eyres

[dwarner]

This list is slightly different for 2009:

President    Roy Creel
Vice President    Don Ferguson III
Secretary    Warren Bullis
Treasurer    Judy Sights
Sergeant at Arms    Bill Lattin
Communications    Mike Manghelli
Motorcycle Committee Chair    Van Butler
Chief Motorcycle Inspector    Tom Evans
Chief Car Inspector    Steve Davies
Rules & Record Certification    Dan Warner
Chief Starter    Jim Jensen
Chief Timer    Frank Scott
BLM Liaison     Chuck Kalbach
Media Liaison    Greg & JoAnn Carlson
BNI Support     Mike Cook
BNI Support    Jim Dunn
BNI Support    Russ Eyers
BNI Treasurer  Steve Toller
BNI Chairperson    Mike Waters

Contact info for the above will be printed in the rulebook.

DW

[DSR Bruts]

I finally got mine installed (i.e. Ford), and tested all of them, which is pretty simple, just tap them on something and they go off.  It is easy to reset them by just pushing down the red button.  I installed mine exactly where they are in the car I took it off of.....left hand side, just below the trunk lid....mine is welded to my roll cage...I even thought about "stacking" a couple side by side if I have any problems, I can just switch wires (airplane thinking...total redundancy).  It would be simple to do, just get longer bolts.  I will definately wire a LED Light or an Autometer bright light to make sure if it goes off, I will immediately notice!  Anyhow, mine looks great and is leveled in all directions.  I will wire it to my electric pump switch wire before it goes into the relay, which is right below the switch.  My chute deploys without a drastic "kick" but works great....I told Bob Stroud that I didn't want the same "pop" as we had with the Funny Car....so this one doesn't jerk the car around.  Thanks again for all your input!

[Stainless1]

Dsr, you don't need a lite to tell you it tripped, the car will stop running immediately....   

[manta22]

DSR;

At least that light will tell you why it quit running.

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ

[4-barrel Mike]

I'm thinking of wiring a light in parallel with the fuel pump ON switch.

Went out and got two switches.

1. from a '89 Taurus.  Mounted behind a pillar with a ubolt and 9mm nuts.  Made in England.
2. from a '97 Taurus.  Mounted outward with 7/32" sheetmetal screws.  Made in USA.

Both by the same company.  Easily removed with a nut drive or small wrench and wire cutters.

Both take a good WHACK with a rubber mallet to switch to the off position.  Goes off easier if turned upside down and shaken a little, but that might be beyond DW's testing means (unless it's unbolted).

Mike