Tiny little springs, little tiny balls, big giant hands.  Oh what fun!

Geo/ATL

On Sat, Jan 19, 2013 at 12:15 AM, David Beierl <dbeierl@attglobal.net>wrote:

> At 10:17 PM 1/18/2013, MICHAEL H wrote:
>
>> ... and I'll back up John ... with small pliers and smaller
>> screwdrives, a drop of PB Blaster, a tiny blob of dilectric grease,
>> patience, not too much coffee. big inhale. slow exhale. it ain't
>> broke til it can't be fixed. cross-post reference   =(:D)
>>  mike
>>
>
> Since we're talking about getting into these switches -- they tend to
> have three things in common:
>
> a) a pair of lugs that hold the body of the switch onto the
> base.  The body is flexible enough to pry around them.
>
> b) one or more coil springs inside which may also have little balls
> associated with them.
>
> c) either a rocker assembly with contacts that strike each other, or
> a slider with inserted contacts with very light coil springs behind them.
>
> To take them apart you place the switch upside down and gently pry
> the body free from the lugs.  Once both lugs are disengaged,
> *carefully* wiggle the base free and lift it away from the switch
> body.  You will now be able to see the slider or rocker and carefully
> remove it, disclosing the stiffer operating spring(s) beneath, with
> the ball(s) sitting on top of them.
>
> Do this in a place where if a ball or spring gets free you'll be able
> to find it.  Note how it comes apart so you can put it back the same
> way.  When everything is resting in its proper place, very carefully
> place the base over the assembly and press it down until the lugs
> engage.  If a contact slips while you're reassembling, stop, pull it
> apart again and verify that everything is in proper place then once
> again press the base evenly into the body.
>
> Things that slide need a bit of grease.  Best if you degrease them
> first.  Contacts that don't slide are best left dry.  1500-grit
> wet/dry paper used gently is good for cleaning up pitted contacts.
>
> Yours,
> David
>