[Milsurplus] Toggle Switch Rehab

[gl4d21a at juno.com]

Hi, 

I just added another kink( or is it a hint? ) to my Hints and Kinks 
page of
my web site.

"The toggle switches often used for power and function switches are 
of the
type with a body made of laminated phenolic(or some similar insulating
material) and are not able to be opened up for cleaning.  I have had 
a high
success rate with putting the radio on its back so that the front 
panel and
switches face upwards, and spraying contact cleaner into the switch 
where
the toggle goes into the body.  With a little exercise, this seems to 
get
enough cleaner down into the switch to do the job."


Rob Flory
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Robert:

You need to be very careful with this approach.  I presume at some 
time you have disassembled one of these ubiquitous switches to see 
the internal workings.  Sending cleaner past the switch pivot tends 
to wash the grease out of the mechanical part of the mechanism, 
causing it to eventually seize, from which there is no recovery.  
Better to carefully introduce the cleaner between the terminal and 
laminate at each terminal to avoid washing the grease off the 
mechanicals.  Every one of those switches I have seen has some gap 
between the terminal and the laminate on one or both sides.  And, 
drip a drop of 90 wt oil down past the switch pivot to lubricate it 
and the arm and plunger inside.

73,
George
W5VPQ



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