Will This Switch Come apart? | FerrariChat

Will This Switch Come apart?

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Jerrari, Mar 6, 2009.

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  1. Jerrari

    Jerrari F1 Veteran

    Jul 24, 2001
    5,469
    Michigan
    Full Name:
    Jerry Wiersma
    #1 Jerrari, Mar 6, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  2. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    #2 Ricambi America, Mar 6, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  3. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
    Consultant

    Nov 29, 2001
    13,654
    San Carlos, CA
    Full Name:
    Mitchell Le
    it comes apart, but there are no "user serviceable components inside"

    You are welcome to try with a BFH, or a screw driver, or a pick, or a dremmel tool. You will likelu find a rocker component, a metal blade, a spring, a ball, and likely worn out beyond repair. Get a new one.
     
  4. Jerrari

    Jerrari F1 Veteran

    Jul 24, 2001
    5,469
    Michigan
    Full Name:
    Jerry Wiersma
    I don't want to fix it, I want to paint it.
     
  5. ferraridriver

    ferraridriver F1 Rookie

    Aug 8, 2002
    4,152
    Bay Area Calif.
    Full Name:
    Dave
    #5 ferraridriver, Mar 6, 2009
    Last edited: Mar 6, 2009
    If its like the other switches on the 550 dash it will come apart by spreading the cover and prying it off the base, however a spring with two small plastic end pieces will fly away into the twilight zone, never to be seen again unless you hold your finger and thumb over them when the upper case comes off. Be very careful here. The rocker can then be pried out.

    There is no ball/contact inside, rather a tiny micro switch under a clear plastic diaphragm operated by a tab the rocker. The cover and spring with end pieces are what hold the switch in an on position by holding the rocker down on the micro switch.

    It's the most convoluted, weird, stupid, design I have ever seen in a switch.

    The big challenge comes when you try to reassemble it. It's damn near impossible, and you are almost guaranteed to loose the end pieces on the spring.

    It took hours to reassemble seven switches in my 550, I lost one spring and three end pieces, spent a half day looking for them, they are still missing.

    If I were to do it again I wouldn't, I'd just clean, mask the rocker, and paint the cover only or leave the cover natural.

    On edit, the two plastic end pieces are grey, about the size of a grain of rice, and about half its diameter,

    One other thing, the actual switch, that is the base component with the micro switch on a CB all appear to be identical, with the only difference being the cover and rocker which determine whither it is a momentary contact however prices vary from $70 to $240 for the switches. That I simply don't understand.
     
  6. Fast_ian

    Fast_ian Two Time F1 World Champ

    Sep 25, 2006
    23,397
    Campbell, CA
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    Ian Anderson
    A tip: Do this inside a plastic bag of some sort....

    Who does?..... Damn!
     
  7. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,054
    USA
    I took apart a broken one and good god, I have no idea how one would get that intricate piece of design slop back together! Just bent over and spent $200 on a new one....that is the wierd part, the switch prices are so random...one can be $80 and of course the one that breaks on me is $200! :(
     
  8. Jerrari

    Jerrari F1 Veteran

    Jul 24, 2001
    5,469
    Michigan
    Full Name:
    Jerry Wiersma
    That confirms that I will leave it together. Thank you for your post, it gave me the info I needed and made me laugh!
     
  9. ferraridriver

    ferraridriver F1 Rookie

    Aug 8, 2002
    4,152
    Bay Area Calif.
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    Dave
    Do you still have the broken one? I could sure use the internals
     
  10. GCalo

    GCalo F1 Veteran

    Sep 15, 2004
    7,645
    Northern California
    Full Name:
    Greg Calo
    #10 GCalo, Mar 6, 2009
    Last edited: Mar 6, 2009
    I have them!!!

    BTW, I thought you are a expert with springs!!!
     
  11. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    37,288
    Cowboy Capitol of the World
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    Brian Crall
    He'll sell them to you for $100.


    The price structure is related to the failure frequency. The ones that break the most cost the most. The Italians aren't stupid you know.
     
  12. ferraridriver

    ferraridriver F1 Rookie

    Aug 8, 2002
    4,152
    Bay Area Calif.
    Full Name:
    Dave
    When I went for a smog test he needed the ASR either on or off, can't remember which, well the ASR switch was one of the ones that was back at the shop so I just switched the trunk switch to the ASR connector, worked fine, no problem.
     
  13. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
    Sponsor

    Sep 11, 2004
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    Robbie
    Absolutely no reason to take them apart, I have refinished well over 300 or so without taking them apart at all. Tricks of the trade!:D
     
  14. bwiele

    bwiele Formula Junior

    Mar 21, 2007
    256
    West Harrison, NY
    Full Name:
    Brian
    This is the first time I've heard about stickynomore.com. I must've just missed it somehow. My 360's interior is still holding up well, but I've filed the website away just in case!
     
  15. t3thomas

    t3thomas Formula Junior

    May 9, 2008
    427
    North Carolina
    Full Name:
    GThomas
    What were the holes in the handle of the switch opener for?..............Is that the air-cooled model?
     
  16. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,054
    USA
    I think I do Dave. PM me as a reminder and I will take a look this evening...happy to donate them to the 355 cause. ;)
     

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