Overhead switchs recondition

[Guy]

GuyByMy overhead switchs were not functioning at all. New ones are were not currently available so I decided to open up the switches and see if I could recondition them. They are very simple inside, mechanically nothing wrong, the lube they used on the inside had turned into a waxy substance that prevented the contacts from passing electricity. Degreased and cleaned contacts checked continuity from spade to contact and spade to spade then reassembled. Repainted rockers to freashen up the look, almost like new.

[mfg]

23 hours ago, Guy said:

GuyByMy overhead switchs were not functioning at all. New ones are were not currently available so I decided to open up the switches and see if I could recondition them. They are very simple inside, mechanically nothing wrong, the lube they used on the inside had turned into a waxy substance that prevented the contacts from passing electricity. Degreased and cleaned contacts checked continuity from spade to contact and spade to spade then reassembled. Repainted rockers to freashen up the look, almost like new.

This is good information… and might give some other Avanti owner with rocker switch problems the courage to attempt a similar fix!!

[Zedman]

Makes me think that rather than opening 'em up, it might be prudent to just marinate them in Kerosene for a few hours....

 

[AG-R3]

There's a product made for electronic chassis components called D-Oxit.  Works wonders for switches and potentiometers

[Guy]

I tried a variety of spray type contact cleaners without success before opening them up. Opening just requires bending the hook tabs a little bit , easy. Even after cleaning with acetone there wasnt continuity untill sanding contacts with 400 grit.

[Kodjo]

Nice, I did the same thing. Cleaning is the best solution. Only watch out for the spring while opening the switch 🙂

 

[Mel]

The wiring up to the overhead panel carries all the load for the headlights and instrument lights.  You can put relays in the wiring from the dimmer switch so that the main (headlamp) load passes through the secondary of the relays, taking a lot of the load off the overhead switches.  The relays mount directly under the fuse block.  I wrote up the procedure in issue 170, pg. 47 of AOAI magazine.

An aside: The overhead panel and the heat/vent control panel are both lit with two 12 volt instrument lamps wired in SERIES.  Wiring them in parallel would be a bit of a chore.  I purchased 6 volt bulbs and replaced them all.  Much brighter, but not too much. Don't mix 6 and 12 volt bulbs in the same area.