13 Jun
2009
13 Jun
'09
8:55 p.m.
Hi,
I've got an old piece of test equipment that has momentary push button
switches which are the primary "input" or control. While most of them
seem to work, many of them are sticky, mushy, and just don't have a
positive click.
I'm not totally adverse to simply replacing them --- assuming I could
find an exact match.
Is there a way to effectively bring these back to life? Can I lube
them? What should I use? How should I apply it?
Thanks
Keith
13 Jun
13 Jun
9:15 p.m.
On 13 Jun 2009 at 16:55, Keith wrote:
I've got an old piece of test equipment that has
momentary push button
switches which are the primary "input" or control. While most of them
seem to work, many of them are sticky, mushy, and just don't have a
positive click.
I'm not totally adverse to simply replacing them --- assuming I could
find an exact match.
Back in the day, we'd just rinse them in freon TF or carbon tet Good
luck in finding any...
I wonder if tetrachloroethylene (percholorethylene, or "perc" to your
local dry cleaner) would work just as well?
--Chuck
14 Jun
14 Jun
2:59 a.m.
Chuck Guzis wrote:
On 13 Jun 2009 at 16:55, Keith wrote:
You can have some of mine. No please, take all of it.
I have two of those old brass hand-pump-style fire extinguishers still filled
with the stuff.
For the seized switches, sometimes simply alcohol will free up switches in that
situation. Another possibility would be contact cleaner, types with or without
oil in it.
I've got an old piece of test equipment that
has momentary push button
switches which are the primary "input" or control. While most of them
seem to work, many of them are sticky, mushy, and just don't have a
positive click.
I'm not totally adverse to simply replacing them --- assuming I could
find an exact match.
Back in the day, we'd just rinse them in freon TF or carbon tet Good
luck in finding any...
9:55 p.m.
On 13 Jun 2009 at 19:59, Brent Hilpert wrote:
You can have some of mine. No please, take all of it.
I have two of those old brass hand-pump-style fire extinguishers still
filled with the stuff.
I'd probably take you up on the offer, except that I suspect that
it's probably illegal to transport the stuff across state boundaries
now...
It used to be popular as a spot remover--apparently, that's what
caused it to get banned--the fumes are pretty toxic when it's used in
unventilated environments. it was the solvent of choice for cleaning
up noisy volume controls.
There used to be (and may still be) a chemistry 101 demonstration
where a mixture of carbon tet and carbon disulfide is ignited and the
teacher calmly dips his hand in the flaming liquid without getting
burned.
--Chuck
5:52 p.m.
Hi,
I've got an old piece of test equipment that has momentary push button
switches which are the primary "input" or control. While most of them
seem to work, many of them are sticky, mushy, and just don't have a
positive click.
You haven't given us much to go on :-). There must me thousands of
different types of pushbutton switches used on test equipment. A
make/model of the equipnet and any markings on the switches could be a
help. A description of the swtich would be useful...
Some swithces can be dismantled non-desturctively. If so, take them
apart, you can then clean the contacts. Where you can restore the 'click'
is another matter, sometimes bending some part will do it. FWIW, the
meral from a coke can (or similar) can sometimes be used for make the
'click washer'.
Clean the parts with something lijke propan-2-ol (isopropanol). It
doesn't attack most plastics, and it doesn't leave anythibng behind. I
would not apply lubricants.
I'm not totally adverse to simply replacing them --- assuming I could
find an exact match.
That's what I would do, if I could get soemthing that would fit without
modifications. Again, we'd need to know a bit more about the switches...
-tony
6:45 p.m.
On Sat, 2009-06-13 at 16:55 -0400, Keith wrote:
Hi,
I've got an old piece of test equipment that has momentary push button
switches which are the primary "input" or control. While most of them
seem to work, many of them are sticky, mushy, and just don't have a
positive click.
I'm not totally adverse to simply replacing them --- assuming I could
find an exact match.
Is there a way to effectively bring these back to life? Can I lube
them? What should I use? How should I apply it?
Have a look on eBay for suitable switches, then buy a huge bag of them
for a couple of quid from a guy in China. That's what I do, and I've
got loads of spares for every clicky-switch panel...
Gordon
5677
days inactive
5678
days old
5 comments
5 participants
participants (5)
-
ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk -
cclist＠sydex.com -
gordonjcp＠gjcp.net -
hilpert＠cs.ubc.ca -
keithvz＠verizon.net