Cleaning the reel stop buttons
Ever get a really good deal on a machine and when you get it home you notice dark spots on the stop buttons? Well my friends, that is dust that collects inside the buttons and there is only one way to get rid of it......you have to take the buttons apart.First, the disclaimer, I am not responsible if you break your buttons. Do this only if you are comfortable taking things apart and good at putting them back together. Extra parts left over is not a good thing in this case. Also the plastic parts get brittle with age so be careful and don't do this if you feel it may break.
So, lets get started shall we? In the first photo I have a switch assembly from a Thunderbirds machine with the center switch disassembled. Assemblies from other makes and models vary somewhat but they all work about the same. If you notice, I've layed the parts out in two rows, the parts in the top row go into the front of the assembly while the bottom row go into the back. I have labeled the parts as I call them, mainly because I don't have a clue as to what they are really called, so use the photo as a reference. Also, to save time and space I am going to describe how to reassemble the switch, to take it apart just reverse the steps. I will include cautions in the steps that apply during dis-assembly in the steps.
The dust collects between the lens and the diffuser and this is why you have to take the buttons apart to clean them.
STEP 1. Clean both the inside of the lens and both side of the diffuser. The diffuser is a thin white plastic disc that fits inside the lens so make sure you remove it and clean both sides.
STEP 2. Snap the lens and diffuser assembly onto the spade piece. Notice on the spade there are two plastic clips. These hold the button into the switch assembly. To remove the button from the assembly you need to squeeze them slightly toward each other. Be careful not to break them. Also, the lens is held to spade by two small clips on the spade so be careful here as well.
STEP 3. With the spade, diffuser, and lens now all together (aka the button), place the spring (a very important step) into the front of the switch assembly then line up the button and snap it into place in the switch assembly. You will find that the button only goes in one way. Notice in the photo there is a hole with a slot in the middle, the spade part of the button goes into the slot. If everything is back together right the button should operate freely
STEP 4. Are we having fun yet?OK, flip the switch assembly over and insert the optical sensor into the assembly. This too should only go in one way.
STEP 5. Snap the plastic cover in place and the switch assembly should be ready to reinstall into the machine. When taking the switch apart be very careful removing the plastic cover. This type of plastic gets very brittle with age and is easy to break. Just pry the clips enough to get past the indent then remove gently. But if you break it, don't worry, that's why they make duct tape...the handyman's friend
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