WTB - Spy Hunter Trigger Micro Switch

Anthony605

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I am currently restoring a Spy Hunter. I took my steering assembly apart to have everything painted and powder coated. I am just about ready to put the steering assembly back together. I ohmed out both of my trigger micro switches. One switch reads .5 ohms closed. The other switch fluctuates between 25 to 70 ohms when closed. I am assuming that switch is getting worn or dirty? Does anyone have an extra that they can spare? I attached pics of the switch that I need. Thanks!!
 

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I think that's just a standard microswitch. The roller thingy will likely come right off that switch and you can transplant it to any other standard microswitch and you're done.
 
I found the right ones from Digikey that have the roller. I did not know that the roller can actually be removed. Do you know how to remove it without destroying the case of the switch?
 
Yes please explain how this is done.
There's nothing to it. I've replaced the microswitch with the roller on it a couple of times in a couple of places. It's just a standard Cherry switch and you transplant the roller arm attachment which just sticks in a small plastic hole on one switch and it comes right out and can be transplanted to the same location on the other switch.

You can also source a whole new switch with the roller arm attachment as well, but I had a bin of new Cherry switches, so why not take the path of least resistance?
 
I found the right ones from Digikey that have the roller. I did not know that the roller can actually be removed. Do you know how to remove it without destroying the case of the switch?
It should just come right out of the switch. Mine was attached to a plastic peg which went into a small hole on the side of the switch and it comes right out.

It's possible I suppose that you have a different type of switch there, but mine was easy.

I've got people coming over today, but if I get the time later today, I can open up my game and try to take a picture. I think the one on the gear shift is of that type and I've replaced it this way before.
 
PXL_20241209_041500217.jpg

This is from the gear shifter. I don't have time to take it apart further, but you can at least see how the roller attaches to a standard Cherry switch. The last time that this microswitch needed to be replaced, I just transplanted the roller assembly onto a standard Cherry switch and I was back in business.

Your mileage may vary, especially if you're using non-Cherry switches.

If you have a Cherry microswitch with a roller that is kaput and a fresh Cherry microswitch, you don't have much to lose popping the roller assembly off the old switch because you'll be throwing it all out anyway.
 
The housings can be carefully pried open and the arm can be transferred over if it can be transferred externally. You can also clean the contacts inside the switch, most bad switches are just dirty versus worn out. But of course if they're a cheap part, just replace it. I will sometimes soak them in a cup of iso alcohol instead of opening them up (let them dry before returning to service) to get more life out of a unique/expensive one. If they're cheap, its not worth the fuss.

Edit: I should also mention that microswitches that 'sit' closed, which this one looks like, can develop dead spots from always sitting at the same point. Microswitches that move from open-close-open tend to respond to cleaning better than ones that sit closed the majority of the time. I actually leave my Rush shifters in between gears during periods of non use because I started to notice 4th gear wouldn't work because thats where the shifter sits when the game is over!)
 
Good info, Gutz. I don't remember prying my switch open.

It's been a few years so I don't remember all of the details so you motivated me to go grab a Cherry switch from my stash and examine it. If you look carefully at the insides of the opening in the side I pointed out yesterday, you can see on both sides there are small holes for pins to fit in, so the roller assembly must have pins of some sort on the end of it, and it simply snaps in.

PXL_20241210_000030086.jpg

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So you should see if you can get it to pop out w/o opening the switch, otherwise, try gently prying it open to drop the roller assembly in.
 
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OP, your original picture shows a non-Cherry switch with a shorter type of roller arm, but this trick could very well work for that as well.
 
Thanks! I appreciate it. I am pretty sure I found the correct Omron switches from Digikey. I will let you know when they come.
 
The trigger switches came from Digikey today. They are a perfect match as far as size, and feel. In case anyone needs them, the Digikey part number is Z4600-ND.
 
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