A little help needed...

[bill812]

The ball tray empty leaf switch on my Nishijin Sophia B is not working properly. When I refurbished it back a few months ago, I re-tinned the contacts with fresh solder and that has worked up until now. I haven't really had a chance to look into it, as I am in the middle of refurbishing a 75 year old candy vending machine that I recently got (it was promised to us many years ago) from a family member, and it takes up most of my free time. I was hoping someone might have a quick solution to help me out. The bulb is good and if you hold the actual copper leaf contacts together, it will work, but that's with applying a good amount of pressure to them and avoiding contact with the actual contact points that I re-tinned back in December. Any suggestions? I was thinking about a little sand papering of both contacts, but haven't done anything yet.

[mudfud]

I use a jeweler's file to freshen up the contacts. then, bend the contacts so they are close to touching, with maybe a 1/16 inch gap. I haven't found a leaf switch yet that I couldn't fix, though I bought some surplus ones if you need a new one.

[bill812]

I have a set of jeweler's files, I'll try that. Thank you. The gap spacing is about what I have it set to.
If it doesn't work, I may take you up on the leaf switch.

[mudfud]

sure. just PM me your address and i'll send it to you.

chewy

[wrkey]

Contacts can be a tricky thing. And how you 'fix' them can depend on several parameters. In my Rock-Ola jukebox, it runs on 32v and some degree of amps that can make you incontinent if you touch it at the wrong time. On our Vintage Pachinkos, the voltage is a lot smaller (<12v) and the amps barely enough to feel or generate a spark.

This being said, handling the contacts on each type of voltage/amp requires a different method. In the high voltage/amp scenario, you want to avoid using the 'sandpaper' method as this method shines it up but leaves small grooves in the points. Thus when the contacts are made or 'unmade' the amp load tends to 'eat away' at those small gooves and causes the switchs to wear out even faster and/or to corrode up at a faster rate. In the low votage/amp environment this isn't so much an issue.

On all of my vintage machines I have used a fine grade emory cloth (fancy sandpaper for metal applications) to clean the points and the connection components. I have had no trouble to date from these cleaned up connections. (knock on wood).

So, IMHO, I say get you some fine emory cloth and see if that doesn't do the trick.

Good luck and I hope this helps!

[bill812]

Thanks Rusty. I have some emory cloth, but I'll try the jewel's file first, as it should be quicker and a little more coarse. If that doesn't do it, then on to your plan.

[Eddie]

Replace the leaf for a micro switch. Quick and reliable fix.

[takethecastle57]

Thats the Ticket !!