2005 STX-12 On/Off Switch Replaced with New Versions??

[cato3]

Does anyone know if the 2005 STX-12 ignition (On/Off, orange magnetic) switch (27045-3716) is any different from say a 2012 STX-15 (27045-3757)?

The price difference is around $120 for the OEM part. The 2005 STX-12 is a four wire and look identical from the outside. So many of the other ignition switches I see are all four wire. This feels like they are just screwing you on the old machines.

[steve45]

Don't know. As you said, they all look the same. Perhaps the plug is wired differently, but that can be changed. I've got some of the older part numbered ones, but I don't have a newer one to compare it to.

[cato3]

An update! I took a gamble and bought the newer, cheaper switch, 2012 STX-15 (27045-3757). Put my Fluke on it and everything rung out the same and an old one. Wires the same color scheme and AWG and plug the same. Installed it and it work in the garage. So I expect that it is the same. I will update if I run into problems do the road but looking good so far.

[steve45]

Any idea what the difference between them is?

[cato3]

I got nothing technical that I can stand on with the measurements taken with the information that I have.

Best I can say is the market for older model parts is what is driving up the cost because of limited availability. It is not to say that there may be some internal differences. I would normally hope from an engineering perspective that the new model has improved reliability and longer life. But it also probably has a reduced manufacturing cost. I have seen some other design improvements from the 2005s to the 2012s (cooling system parts) that work just fine because the motor block has not changed over those years.