Gareth Magennis wrote in message
...

"Ron" wrote in message
...
Gareth Magennis wrote:
"msg" wrote in message
ernet...
Gareth Magennis wrote:

Hi,

I'm trying to find a 4 pole changeover footswitch for a Maxon guitar
effrects pedal. Not the kind of thing you see every day.

The original is made by Fujisoku, but they do not appear in their
catalogue. I suspect these are custom made for Maxon.
Just curious, but do you guys who do this sort of work and are
sensitive
to value of service time issues ever just disassemble and refurbish
such things as switches? I found it more cost effective to
disassemble
and rebuild special, but well constructed, DPDT push button switches
used in a (U.S.) bingo board than to order new ones.

Michael


IMHO this would only be valid with particularly well constructed or
expensive parts. And that doesn't happen much these days.
I believe that for most modern equipment the customer would rather pay
for a new switch rather than pay the same or more to refurbish the old
one, which won't last as long.
I learned a long time ago that I didn't like customers bringing me back
equipment they'd paid me to repair a few months later saying, "that
pot/switch/socket you cleaned for me has got dirty again".

In this case the footswitched is smashed to pieces.

Hi Gareth

Could you perhaps post a photo of the remains of the switch somewhere, I
might have something lurking in the recesses of my workshop which will
do.

Ron


I'll do that tomorrow Ron, most kind.



FYI, Maxon is run by the Japanese guy who designed the Ibanez Tube
Screamer.
To a guitarist this is like saying he designed Bugatti racing cars.
Suffice
to say this pedal is worth over 300 quid on FleaBay, and all the cool
famous
guitarists have them.

I have in the last 5 minutes got an email from the USA distributors
Godlyke,
who have referred me to a French distributor, so there may be hope of the
proper replacement. This pedal was brought to me before, and back then
Godlyke said they had a switch kicking about but it would cost $40 +
shipping + tax. The customer politely refused, but now realises he has no
option.


Worst case scenario is fitting a relay, as Mr Cook suggested, since the
pedal is external powered only. Not sure how this would affect its value,
which is an important consideration.


Cheers,


Gareth.




I've never come across a latching footswitch that is sensibly repairable.
Either a tiny bent or worn pivot in the centre or tiny bit of swaged brass
broken that holds the two main parts together.
BTW anyone know the technical name for the stepped 1/8 turn : 1/4 turn
rotational ratchet mechanism is called that is used in some of these
latching switches? it is the same mechanism as in retractable ball point
pens.

Of course fudge replacement could be 2 off DPDT miniature relays instead of
the usually more bulky / heavier duty 4PDT ones

--
Diverse Devices, Southampton, England
electronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list on
http://home.graffiti.net/diverse:graffiti.net/