(Topic ID: 255756)

Microswitch Repair

By Michel_K17

4 years ago



Topic Stats

  • 6 posts
  • 5 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 4 years ago by Jjsmooth
  • Topic is favorited by 5 Pinsiders

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    #1 4 years ago

    The repair guide from http://homepinballrepair.com/ says:

    "Microswitches are enclosed and cannot be cleaned. If they malfunction, they may need to be physically adjusted or replaced."

    I found that it is not exactly correct, and if you are a cheap b*stard like me, you might be able to salvage an existing microswitch.

    I have an old #black-knight that had a number of microswitches with very high resistance readings, varying from 64 Ohms up to infinity/open when the switch is closed.

    Failed (resized).jpgFailed (resized).jpg

    I simply drilled out the melted plastic holding them together (some can be split apart without doing this),

    drill (resized).jpgdrill (resized).jpg

    then take a picture (for future re-assembly),

    inside (resized).jpginside (resized).jpgDiassembled (resized).jpgDiassembled (resized).jpg

    and finally, I used the business card trick to clean the contacts.

    clean (resized).jpgclean (resized).jpg

    Re-assembly & retest

    Fixed (resized).jpgFixed (resized).jpg

    #2 4 years ago

    How do you hold them together after?

    #3 4 years ago

    Cool. It's interesting to know what is inside of those things.
    Did you screw it back together?
    Crazy glue?
    Melt something back together?
    --
    Chris Hibler - CARGPB #31
    http://www.ChrisHiblerPinball.com/Contact
    http://www.PinWiki.com - The Place to go for Pinball Repair Info

    #4 4 years ago

    I do it the easy way: just soak the switch in some Mean Green diluted 50% with water for about an hour. Then rinse the switch out with warm water and dry it in front of a fan. You don't need to take the switch apart at all with my method.

    #5 4 years ago
    Quoted from zacaj:

    How do you hold them together after?

    Quoted from ChrisHibler:

    Did you screw it back together? Crazy glue? Melt something back together?

    Nope. I simply pressed the two halves together, and there is enough friction that they do not fall apart. Afterwards, when they are screwed back against the supporting bracket, there is no risk of the two halves splitting since they are under compression from the screws.

    Note: some of the newer switches do not have the melted plastic - they are held strictly by friction.

    @KenLayton's solution:

    Quoted from KenLayton:just soak the switch in some Mean Green diluted 50%
    ...is interesting - thank you. Can't wait to try it out on my next two switches that I need to do.

    #6 4 years ago

    I was always afraid to clean these along with the harness in degreaser.
    Not anymore.
    Thanks

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