Looking for some advice. I am restoring a few of my games and wanted to get peoples thoughts on replacing parts. If all of your micro switches are working do you replace them anyway? I am doing a full tear down so I have all the wire harnesses and other parts completely off the game anyway. Since the game is all apart it is easier to replace now as opposed to when it's fully back. I definitely switching out the slings and jet switches and most of the standup targets as those are used and abused. With all that costs are going up by the day.

#2 10 years ago

NYB

planters49

Pinside member

12y 48,400 481

If you buy just the microswitch body and use the old metal arm part they don't cost much. I have been replacing all the switches on the pins I've totally torn down and put back together. So I would replace them or at least the ones that will be hard to get to if you need to replace them.

#3 10 years ago

AAA

pintechev

Inactive member

11y 91,300 4,437

There is something to be said for preventative maintenance. And there is something to be said for leaving well enough alone. I have been leaning towards repairing them only when they break. YMMV, of course.

#4 10 years ago

DEL

SealClubber

Pinside Moderator

14y 127K 11,060 246

I only replace them when they start to get flaky or, of course, fail altogether. Most switches last a loooong time. But then again, I am not restoring games.

#5 10 years ago

BSK

Bryan_Kelly

Pinside+ Frequent

Lakeville, MN

12y 135K 8,484 8 1

I replace them all on restorations I do. I don't want my guys to have to worry about them. And as someone else said, you really want to do those that are hard to get to once everything's back in place.

#6 10 years ago

MMR

mmr61184

Pinside+ Frequent

Fairfield, CT

10y 66,300 1,840 5

Thanks guys those were my thoughts replace those hat to get at when the game is on and just use the working ones on the easy to reach spots.

#7 10 years ago

NYB

planters49

Pinside member

12y 48,400 481

make sure you get the diodes for the switches too

#8 10 years ago

MMR

mmr61184

Pinside+ Frequent

Fairfield, CT

10y 66,300 1,840 5

Definitely I can't find them on Great Plains website though. Anybody know the part number

Quoted from planters49:make sure you get the diodes for the switches too

#9 10 years ago

RJP

Patofnaud

Pinside member

Tilton, NH

11y 67,150 3,621 7

1N4004 is the standard diode for switch matrix, lamp matrix and across coils

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