Jonathan Goodish wrote:

I have a Bendix starter switch installed in my PA-28-181, and as far as
I can tell it is original.
...

I don't know whether the "7611" is the date code or whether it's
something else. Can anyone help?

Almost all electronic or electrical components (particularly electromechanical
parts, switches, ics, capacitors, power resistors, etc have a 4 digit date code
YYMM, where YY is non-millenium year when made, and MM is the month.

For example, I just pulled two Signetics LF444CN ic chips out of my junkbox, and
one has "M9336" following the Signetics logo, and the other has "M8830"; which I
interpret as meaning that the first was made in the 36th week of 1993, and the
second was made in the 30th week of 1988.

Other chips dont have the M in front of the number, but the 4 digit date code is
very likely to be on most electronic parts...

MikeM
Skylane '1mm
Pacer '00z