push button switch fails

[Anonymous]

hi, push button starter switch fails to make contact everytime i use it. i mostly need to "wiggle" the push button to find a good contact. i took the cover apart, cleaned the contacts, but, the button still needs to be wiggled to work. any ideas on how to "clean" the contacts? there are two contacts on the plate under the button. my question is: how does it make contact to complete a circuit? in other words, what do i need to do to make the button useful. martin

[bgmart450]

Rubbing alcohol, superfine sandpaper, or an emry board should do the trick depending on the level of rust/tarnish on the contacts.

[gremlin]

contact cleaner, you can get it at radio shack or any electronics part store. sand paper will make the gap longer in the contacts. after a bunch of cleanings it will not make contact. use a wire brush. pick up some dielectric grease to, it will keep the o2 from croding the contact.

[Anonymous]

i already "cleaned" the contact. the button still doesn't work. "how" do the points connect to complete the circuit? martin

[Wingnut]

i already "cleaned" the contact. the button still doesn't work. "how" do the points connect to complete the circuit? martin

I just had one of these apart the other day for the same reason. There is a spring, a hat shaped piece of metal and a contact. These must be sanded to remove corrosion so all of those pieces will make electrical contact. Study it for a minute or two. You will see. The electrical path is from the spring base contact, through the spring, through the hat and back to the base when you push the button. Or something like that. Can't remember exactly. Make it all shinny.

[Anonymous]

Wingnut is correct on that one, but also make sure the clutch switch is working too, they are inter-connected. I had this problem before and it actually ended up being the clutch switch even though it seemed to be the starter switch. If you are planning to take the clutch swith apart on the bike be careful, lots of little springy parts.

[Anonymous]

I agree! Finally took the clutch switch apart to find it totally gummed up with greenish gunk on the copper connectors. Cleaned those and the starter went back to normal. I believe you can bypass the clutch switch also by connecting the wires???

[gremlin]

are you getting any voltage at the switch. there could be a brake in the wire some ware.