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41-280 power switch and finish up
#1

Been procrastinating digging into the power switch on my 41-280 for over a year while prowling hamfests for a proper looking old switch.

 
Got the original working over a year ago with some DeOxit and poking in one of the wires that had been whacked short back and was loose.  Worked, but barely.
 
Seemed the best idea was to keep the bits of brass rivet out of the bottom so did a tape off before starting with he Dremmel.  A shop vac got things cleaned up before removing the tape and paper.

[Image: http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q734...f9b1cf.jpg]
 
The switch slid off the rivets fine and interior looked OK so figure it was hard grease for the failure that caused a toggle switch to appear in the side of the case.
 
Referring to the pictures in The Notebook http://www.philcoradio.com/notebook/41226.htm it appears the wires were soldered to the contacts in some of the switches.  From the look of mine only a little arc solder melt occurred.  Maybe an original defect.  The wire still held in firmly was held by pressure on the insulation.  The short wire end was mostly gone but had not damaged the contact finger.

[Image: http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q734...cf2b_1.jpg]
The remaining wire is just slid behind contact - not soldered


[Image: http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q734...a8f8_1.jpg]
Replacement wires were soldered to the contacts like the picture in repair notebook.  This is the original switch.

The idea of using a screws to mount the switch made a lot of sense.  The outboard rivet appeared to have the flange stuck in the assembly, but some wiggling and mashing with needle nose pliers if finally dropped out.  The inboard rivet fell out fine.

Rivet OD was 0.093"  The push button frame holes would pass a #42 bit .093", but not a # 41 .096".  My chart shows a 4-40 tap drill as  #43 .089 for 70.8%  and a 4-48 as #42 for 68.4%.  The clearance hole spec is a #33 but a 32  .111" is enough and leaves more original body so that was used to enlarge the holes in the original switch.
 
Checking the price on 4-48 machine screws made 4-40 screws (that I have lots of) with a #42 hole @ 57% look OK.
 
The outboard mounting hole has a slight over lap of the back of the push button assembly end plate a bit under the surface.  Take care not to jam your tap & SNAP!  Got about 2 turns on a taper tap, another 1 or 2 with a plug tap and finished with a bottom tap.  Tapping here is an exercise if slow and cautious.
 
Screw length is also critical in both holes.  The inboard will stop the operator if it is too long or has a standard size head.  Get a small size head or use a grinder.  The outboard has interference in my switch stack, maybe not yours.

[Image: http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q734...9e05_1.jpg]Note the small screw head on the inboard mounting screw.  It has to be flush with the edge of the case.

The bracket is thin so use a gentle torque on the screwdriver.
 
I like fuses so added an inline 2A on one switch wire to the transformer.  In picture above.
 
Finish up Knobs and push buttons
 
The push buttons were sliding on hard.  I tried a bit of silicon grease on the metal and added a tad inside the new push buttons with a dental pick.  Did the same on the knobs.  Wonder what others have tried.
#2

I re-built one of those myself.  Not difficult.  Just careful 
rivet removal and do it in a box to catch any springs 
that may liberate themselves.

A little contact cleaner and like new.  Once I had to use a relay contact 
burnishing tool to smooth out one contact.

Small switch, thick fingers makes it interesting.   Icon_biggrin

Chuck
#3

great job Icon_clap Icon_clap
I have one I was hesitating to do but looks easy
sam

Some day, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day, accept this justice as a gift
mafiamen2
#4

(01-28-2015, 01:15 PM)sam Wrote:  great job Icon_clap Icon_clap
I have one I was hesitating to do but looks easy
sam

It is Sam.  Dive in!
The rivets get replaced, I believe with 2-56 screws/nuts.
I remember using brass ones I had on hand.
Dabbed a little screw-lock on the threads too.
#5

Sam, Here is the carbide burr I used in the Dremmel

[Image: http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q734...693a74.jpg]

The Dremmel required a slight angle to clear the trimmer cab above the switch assembly.  Light pressure was just right.  The rivets rotated a tad giving a nice even cut off of the flange.

A hacksaw blade broken off and the end ground like a chisel that I use a lot was the perfect tool for working the switch off the rivets.  Standard caution - corral the area for dropped parts.

Scrubbing bubbles cleaned up the switch interior and contacts.  Just a tab of lube is plenty.

The screw clearance holes are just barely big enough and too long screw through one hole helped keep it together lowering it to the bracket.  If I have to do it again I will try flipping the chassis so gravity will work with me.

Got to hold the switch top plate in place as you lower the switch back onto the assembly.  After it was in place lightly held one finger on the switch and a pair of needle noses in the other hand to gently wiggle the PB operator up and down a bit to line up tip and switch center.  If the chassis had been flipped I think it would have been a lot easier.
#6

thanks guys
will try soon
sam

Some day, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day, accept this justice as a gift
mafiamen2




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