Arcade buttons sticking in my car

[rmcelwee]

Hey guys, it's been a very long time since I've been on the board. I built my machines years ago in the very early days of MAME/BYOAC and have since moved on to other interests (Miatas) but I'm back for a slightly off topic question. I'm in the middle of building a lightweight race car and I'm using 1-player (start) and 2-player (horn) arcade buttons in my dash. The problem is that the buttons sometimes stick. On an arcade machine that could be a pain, on my application it means that the horn sticks or my starter gets burnt up. I've soaked them down with some silicon spray but that didn't completely fix the problem. Does anyone have any really good ideas on how to keep them from sticking? These buttons will be exposed to lots of sun/heat. I really want to keep the arcade buttons (both are brand new) in my car because I'm a gamer at heart but if I don't find a solution I'll have to scrap the idea. Thanks!

[SkateDetroit]

Mount them some where so they don't recieve direct sunlight? Try a different brand of button? Use a heavier spring?

I think a thicker spring might do the trick.

[bloodyviking77]

I guess you've already pulled the buttons apart and cleaned them down?

I had a couple of 2nd hand buttons that were just *full* of gunk. A quick wash out with warm soapy water worked wonders.

Once they're good and clean, maybe some powdered graphite along the "inner" part of the button might help . . .  

[ani]

heh.
hahah.
that's all i got.

[ChadTower]

Looks to me like they're expanding in the sun/heat.  Try taking the button out of its casing and sanding around the perimeter so that there is more clearance between the button and the casing.  That could do the trick.

[wj2k3]

If you are not mounting to a flat suface or hole isn't straight, then the button may be deforming when you tighten it down.  Do the buttons stick when they are not mounted?

[rmcelwee]

Mount them some where so they don't recieve direct sunlight? Try a different brand of button? Use a heavier spring?

I think a thicker spring might do the trick.

Nah, I gotta have them where they can be seen! No springs in them (I think we used to call these horizontal switch buttons because there is a switch mounted horizontally under them).

[rmcelwee]

I guess you've already pulled the buttons apart and cleaned them down?

I had a couple of 2nd hand buttons that were just *full* of gunk. A quick wash out with warm soapy water worked wonders.

Once they're good and clean, maybe some powdered graphite along the "inner" part of the button might help . . .  

They are brand new (well, purchased 4 years ago but never used). Sticky right out of the bag.

[rmcelwee]

Looks to me like they're expanding in the sun/heat.  Try taking the button out of its casing and sanding around the perimeter so that there is more clearance between the button and the casing.  That could do the trick.

That's not a bad idea. I think the fact that they are mounted sideways could be causing my problems (imagine arcade buttons where your radio is). I'll have to look at sanding them down...

[Edgedamage]

Quick fix remove the microswitch where the switch was you will see two little tabs. Push them towards the centre and the button will pop up. Remove the button and inside you will find a spring remove it and stretch it a little and test the button again. I used to do this with all the games I would place on location. Sure the buttons feel stiffer but I have had games that had soft drink spilled on them and dryed and the buttons would not stick.

[EndTwist]

Why don't you just take the button part out and grease it up?

[rmcelwee]

Why don't you just take the button part out and grease it up?

With what? Won't heavy grease just make them stick more?