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| bought NOS leaf switches - why are the contacts blackened? |
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| rockin_rick:
I bought some leaf switches off of ebay and they were listed as "Top Quality New Old Stock" http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150082893286. When I got them, I noticed that the gold contacts were kinda "dirty" - there is greyish black corrosion. Does this indicate that they have been used, and are thus not "new"? Do the contacts on NOS leafs "get dirty" like this over time without use? Should I be concerned about the "dirt"? The "connectors" on the leafs show no signs of being used (no solder, no scratches like connectors had been on). These are the first leaf switches that I have had or seen in person. Do these look like NOS leafs? Is there anything else about them that seems not right, perhaps they are cheap imports or something? Basically, did I get duped by the seller? Thanks, Rick |
| fatfingers:
All I know is my NOS leafs I bought looked way nicer than that. That said, I'm sure those could be cleaned up and will still work nice. Good luck. |
| Fozzy The Bear:
--- Quote from: rockin_rick on January 26, 2007, 07:46:30 pm ---When I got them, I noticed that the gold contacts were kinda "dirty" - there is greyish black corrosion. --- End quote --- Those are NOT Gold contacts..... Gold does not tarnish or corode at all. The contacts you have are standard leaf switch contacts that have (by the look of them) been brazed onto the copper leaf. You find this type in pinball machines quite a lot. There's nothing wrong with them at all. This is quite normal. Get a small brass wire brush and give the contacts a brush up and they'll be fine. Then once you have your buttons in place you need to adjust the leaves by gentle pressure on them until they contact at the right time. You'll find that you need to do this about every six months with traditional leaf switches. The tarnishing is just due to age.... perfectly normal. They don't look used at all. They've no scratch marks or solder on the wire attachment points. They've probably just been stored in a draw full of the things.... I know that's how I store them at work. The cosmetic condition isn't exactly important, because you never see them. Best Regards, Julian (Fozzy The Bear) |
| Knievel:
I'd say they're NOS Wico parts, just looks like they oxidized over the years. You only need to clean the small points where the leafs actually touch. Very fine sandpaper or an emery board should make them like new again. |
| Fozzy The Bear:
--- Quote from: Knievel on January 26, 2007, 09:20:49 pm ---You only need to clean the small points where the leafs actually touch. Very fine sandpaper or an emery board should make them like new again. --- End quote --- No No No!!! NEVER with sandpaper or emery board!!!! You wear away the contact surface that way. Only ever a light rub with small a Brass wire brush. You can get them from car parts dealers, they sell them for cleaning contact gaps on spark plugs. They look like a toothbrush with brass bristles. Best Regards, Julian (Fozzy The Bear) |
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