What color are your stalks???

I need to know the 'correct' column switch stalk color for the 365BB, 512BB, & 512BBi. Is it satin black, satin silver, or does it depend on the model?

A customer has asked me what the correct stalk color for his Boxer's column switch should be. Currently his stalks are satin black. However the switch was replaced awhile ago. According to his service records the replacement had the correct part number.

I asked another Boxer owner & his stalks are also satin black, but again the switch had been replaced years ago.

I've always been under the impression that black headlight stalks were introduced around 1980 in the Testarossa, Mondial 8, & Injected 308s. Prior to that the stalks were satin silver colored, or else chrome. However, I have never worked on a switch that I knew came from a Boxer.

Online parts catalogs list p/n 116780 for all 3 models. This is the same P/N as the 308 GTBi black stalk switch. I do know that this black stalk 308 switch will & often was used as a replacement for earlier satin silver stalk switches.

However, the 365BB parts list also has p/n 103518. Online catalogs show this p/n as also used in the Daytona, 400, 365BB, and Dino. I do know that the Daytona, Dino & 400 switches had satin silver stalks.

The 512BBi column switch is listed as p/n 118123 which appears to be unique to that model.

I tried searching, but didn't turn anything up in the Boxer/TR/M forum. If this question has already been answered, please post links to the thread.

 

One of Unobtainium Supply's switch service offerings is stalk strip & refinish in either black or satin silver at the owner's request. In this case I'm seeking information to advise an owner whether his switch's black stalks are correct, or should be refinished satin silver.

I try very hard to make sure I have a correct match to the original finish. It's hard with this color because the finish slowly oxidizes & darkens with age, even when the switch is NOS on the shelf. My reference is a set of near pristine stalks.

 

Thought you might like to see this picture of the switch I was asking about in the preceding post.

In addition to casting new hedlight & turn stalk pivot ends & giving the switch a cleaning, & detarnishing the contacts, the originally black stalks were stripped, replated satin zinc & given a satin clearcoat:
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