flaky switches - loose - how to fix

[Cpl-Chronic]

Heyya, =)

I know blasting a switch with detox cleaner will sometimes restore a switch after it gets gummed up but what do you do when a switch is loose. I have a GF-777Z with a flaky 'FUNCTION' toggle that switches the input between line-in, tuner or tape. It feels a little loose & the left side cuts in & out when you wiggle it sideways. To me that seems to me to be a loose switch, not dirty. How do you get to it & fix it? I don't look forward to disassembling all those plastic pieces & circuits.

 

[Superduper]

Cleaning and then restoring the switch levers with new grease can help improve the "feel" of the switch. It shouldn't really be tight anyhow. As for the switch cutting out by wiggling it -- that is common with swich contacts when they are heavily oxidized. Spray solvent can improve that situation when you work it enough to break up the oxidation but it will only clean on the surfaces that are in direct contact against each other. The oxidation can once again spread in short order. You can't really do an effective deoxit treatment from the outside. You really do need to disassemble far enough to be able access the switches/controls. Afterwards, you should clean off the excess solvent. Compressed air can help with that. The longest lasting repair however is to disassemble the switch and manually clean off the oxidation and reassemble while coating the surfaces with contact preservative. This requires disassembly of the switches and not easy at all. Extreme care also needs to be exercised if you choose to do this as the small feeler contacts are easily damaged and difficult to realign for reassembly.

As far as disassembling the boombox for a proper cleaning -- it certainly is not what I call easy, especially for an inexperienced boombox restorer. In this case, the manual can come in very handy because it does have step by step disassembly instructions as well as caution notes. Take lots of pictures and use care, don't force anything.

 

[Cpl-Chronic]

thanx for the advice.

 

[Reli]

I have had bad experiences with spraying toggle switches from the outside. The carrier solvent evaporates like it's supposed to, but the protectant/lubricant remains indefinitely. Resulting in a slippery, vague feel. The metallic "clunk" between the detents is gone.

The problem is, toggle switches contain not only the electrical contact points, but also a bearing of some kind that provides the "detent" between each selection. In rare cases it is actually a real metal ball bearing, but in most cases it is a plastic or nylon part that guides the switch through its motion. And if you put lubricant on those parts, they lose friction and feel too slippery.

 

[floyd]

the next time i look through my pile-o-crap i'll see if i still have spare switches , can't make any promises as the bones of that ole 777 are picked pretty clean

 

[Cpl-Chronic]

the next time i look through my pile-o-crap i'll see if i still have spare switches , can't make any promises as the bones of that ole 777 are picked pretty clean

thanx man, I'm looking for a plastic toggle cover for the SNRS toogle & a line-in/phono switch on the back. Everything else works perfect.