Leaf Switch Adjustment/Maintenance?

Broodwich

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Anyone have any good tips for adjustment and cleaning or maintenance of leaf switches?

I know there's a tool or your fingers and some clean with rubbing alcohol/cardboard/emery cloth. personally i'm rather new to this old tech (shameful) so any pointers would be great... maybe someone has a video?

Basically i'm looking for a lil better response from my Robotron (i've got some new switches and grommets already, just looking for some tips while the old ones are still in play).
 
*DON'T* sand them. You'll sand off the plating and they'll get flaky in short order. Card stock cut into strips with some Deoxit on it is the best way.
 
Perhaps worth mentioning that there are two major types of leaf switches. The most common is the low-current, often gold-plated type, as found in video game controls and most applications in pins. However, be aware that there are also high-current tungsten switches in some pins (EMs and early SS mostly). Anyhow, tungsten switches DO nead filing from time to time. As mentioned, never file a low-current switch.
 
what did tech's do before deoxit on the gold plated ones?

and what happens when the card stock doesn't work? (tried this once, i'm guessing use some deoxit?)

I knew about the no sanding/filing due to gold contacts but i've heard of people using a specific file on theirs before (or emery cloth). I'm guessing this was for the high current switches.
 
I use a soft bristle wire brush. Works wonders for me! Bought like a 3 pack at walmart in the paint section I believe.
 
what did tech's do before deoxit on the gold plated ones?

and what happens when the card stock doesn't work? (tried this once, i'm guessing use some deoxit?)

I knew about the no sanding/filing due to gold contacts but i've heard of people using a specific file on theirs before (or emery cloth). I'm guessing this was for the high current switches.

They used card stock. I've even used paper currency. Insert between contacts, close contacts, pull the card through. Repeat until clean. If that doesn't work, and its not the wires/connection to the switch, I would guess that someone filed the gold contacts in the past and ruined the switch.

Edit: Also, make sure the leafs (leaves?!?) aren't broken inside the stack.
 
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As mentioned above, there are 2 different types of contacts used on leaf switches, but in video games you'll only find the low current type with gold plated contacts.

http://www.twistywristarcade.com/962-1122-large/joystick-button-leaf-switch-1-11-16-.jpg

The high current types are used in EM pinballs and other electromechanical things (also in electronic pinballs which still used "high power" flipper circuits. You can always tell these from the other type by the thicker non plated contacts.

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Pinball-Cabinet-Flipper-Leaf-Switch-Single-Switch-/12/!BVKhhYwBWk~$(KGrHgoOKjQEjlLmWWZMBKREi0hPOg~~_35.JPG


There's several ways to clean the plated contacts. I've used the following over the last 25 years: Brasso, Nev-r-dull, Tarn-x, Deoxit, card stock, dremel with wire wheel. I tend to use the wire wheel when there's a ton of them to be done since its very fast.
 
leaf switches are always in need of cleaning.....if you can, I'd replace them with micro switches which may need to replace some hardware or brackets but they will work much better than leaf swiches. If you don't want to do the work to go with the micro switches, since you have cleaned the leaf switches and are still unhappy with the way they work, you are going to have to replace them with new leaf switches for good reaction during game play.
 
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