Electroswitch rotary trouble

[jaykay]

I have used the plastic 8 position rotary Electroswitch for many years. Most of them last 5 years or more. Currently, however, I am having problems with many of these switches. They are stiff when new, and become increasingly more stiff - hard to turn- necessitating changing them within 3 or 4 weeks. I called Electroswitch, and also Kleenrite asking for any reports of this phenomenon, but they say "No". Has anyone had this issue and/or have a solution? I am totally puzzled.

 

[MEP001]

I haven't used the plastic one myself, but that's what I've noticed about them when I see them at the washes. Try the regular one with the rubber boot and a dab of dielectric grease. They last at least ten years.

N9060X1/4 2 APM Hexseal | Switches | DigiKey

Order APM Hexseal N9060X1/4 2 (335-1136-ND) at DigiKey. Check stock and pricing, view product specifications, and order online.

www.digikey.com

 

[soonermajic]

I haven't used the plastic one myself, but that's what I've noticed about them when I see them at the washes. Try the regular one with the rubber boot and a dab of dielectric grease. They last at least ten years.

N9060X1/4 2 APM Hexseal | Switches | DigiKey

Order APM Hexseal N9060X1/4 2 (335-1136-ND) at DigiKey. Check stock and pricing, view product specifications, and order online.

www.digikey.com

Is that the corrext link?

 

[Randy]

I haven't replaced a rotary switch in over 10 years. When they get stiff and hard to turn I spray WD-40 into the switch, take the knob off and spray WD-40 on the shaft, put the knob back on and turn the knob back and forth and it'll be good for another year or so.

 

[soonermajic]

Randy, i figured w/ your ZPOS customers, you'd get several broke per year...

 

[Toms PTcarwash]

I also use the electroswitch double stack 8 position. I replace maybe 1 per year at the most.
As someone else mentioned, spray some PB Blaster or Wd on the front and back of the shaft and they will loosen up.

 

[MEP001]

Is that the corrext link?

Why wouldn't it be?

 

[Greg Pack]

Same thing as the others, a shot of penatrant on the shaft and they loosen up.

 

[cantbreak80]

Is that the corrext link?

That is the correct link.
You can always spend 5X the price for the same item HERE

Like MEP001, I squeeze a bit of dielectric or silicone grease into the switch's shaft before adding the Hexseal nut...especially if the meter box is in the "wet zone" of the bay.
(Whoever thought installing meter boxes in the middle of a car wash bay was a good idea???)

 

[GoBuckeyes]

Holy Crap!!! The guys at Kleen-Rite must be pricing that nut to accelerate their retirement fund! $16


"You can always spend 5X the price for the same item HERE"

 

[MEP001]

I don't know why some suppliers price stuff like that. The LED segments for the big IDX timer are $5 apiece if you order ten from Mouser, but the exact same item from Fragramatics or IDX is $50.

 

[2Biz]

I think I got "All of It" out of this one! Just changed it a week or so ago, and it still worked. But was getting a little stiff! I've been using the hex seal for years....I didn't pay $16 for a seal! WOW....

 

[Toms PTcarwash]

I think I got "All of It" out of this one! Just changed it a week or so ago, and it still worked. But was getting a little stiff! I've been using the hex seal for years....I didn't pay $16 for a seal! WOW....

I do believe you did ok with that one!!!

 

[Randy]

There’s nothing wrong with that rotary switch that a wire brush and a little WD-40 couldn’t fix. Did that rotary switch come out of an outside bay or an inside bay? Are your coin boxes mounted at the center of the bay? I have customers who will hold the wand nozzle up to the coin slot and spray water into the coin slot thinking they’ll get more time, it doesn’t work.

 

[2Biz]

That switch came from an inside bay, next to the ER. The coin boxes are mounted in the center of the bay. In the beginning, I was lucky to get a year out of the switches until I found the hex seals.

 

[jaykay]

Thank you for all the replies. Much appreciated. I've been using the plastic switch but am going to start using the metal switch referred to in the discussions, and will be using suggestions found here. My problem is with the plastic switch, which I've used for years, -- not a lubrication or corrosion issue. When they are new and are rotated into a new position, they do so with a much more forceful SNAP than the previous plastic switches that I have used. It seems that the spring that Electro is using is stronger than in previous switches and is causing the detent balls to dig into the plastic track - just a guess - and as a result, our switches have been failing (very difficult to turn) in 4 or 5 weeks. I've contacted Electro and will be forwarding some of these failed switches to them to get a determination of cause. I have a few metal switches on hand and will start using those -- using the lubrication suggestions made. Once I get a reply from Electro, I will post it. Thank you all for your input.

 

[2Biz]

I found the old thread where I found these hex seals on Digikey...Mep said he had got them from Etowah Valley but they were expensive, even back then...The Electroswitch seems to have a very odd thread, one I've never seen before. Its a 15/32-32 thread. Don't ask how I found this hex seal on Digikey with that thread! All I know it is the right one!

(47) Rotary switch problem | Car Wash Forum