OT- Soldering Experts

The switch that controls the header position on my Deere combine is failing again. I replaced it 5 years ago at a cost of $400. Now Deere wants $960 for it! You cannot just replace the switch you have to replace the entire hydro handle.

<a href="http://s41.photobucket.com/albums/e280/Scott1066/?action=view&current=HPIM0537Small.jpg" target="_blank"> </a>

It is a two stage switch, you press the button half way is raises slow, all the way it raises fast. I took the old one apart and the rocker depresses little micro switches soldered to a circit board. I can get the micro switches for $8.50 each online Now the guestion? How does one desolder the old switchs and install the new ones without melting the whole thing? I don't know of anyone locally and there are no adds in the phone book for this type of work. Anyone do this work or know of a place that does it? I would gladdly ship to and pay someone to do it, has to be a cheaper way than mother Deere's $1000 solution! BTW I live in SE MN.

<a href="http://s41.photobucket.com/albums/e280/Scott1066/?action=view&current=HPIM0535Small.jpg" target="_blank"></a>

<a href="http://s41.photobucket.com/albums/e280/Scott1066/?action=view&current=HPIM0536Small.jpg" target="_blank"></a>

Scott,Take it to a TV repair shop or radio shop. It is an easy job.

When did John Deere use the color red ? lj

I use a butane soldering torch which gives me more control over the amount of heat needed to melt the solder & compressed air through an air nozzle to remove the excess.

A Weller type soldering gun will work just as good but watch the amount of heat you apply, heat the solder just enough to get it liquefied while at the same time blow away any excess.

Take your time!

Scott
Ultratorch UT 100SI

Yep it is an easy job for anyone experienced at soldering PC boards.

Just need a temp controlled soldering station and a solder sucker.

Anyone who does radio repair can do it. Is there a local short wave radio group (hams) nearby? Also check with a local radio control flying club. Some of each of those do their own boards. Ask at Radioshack about someone who does it. Some years ago I re[aIRED THE LCD type of boards used in gas stations and it was not easy. Henry

Easy fix if you can find the right person. Years ago I could do that in my sleep but I was also Micro-min qualified in the navy. But thats was 28 plus years ago. Takes a small solder iron and the correct tools to do the job but with them its a simple fix BTDT many times
Hobby farm

Ditto on the TV repairman. Be sure he knows what you need and not how much you're trying to save. David.........

I remember back in high school electronics there was a "wick" that came on a roll like solder that was used for what you want to do. It looked like a miniature ground strap made of copper. Just heat it with a pencil iron and it sucks the solder right out of the joint.

Scott,

Hold the phone! You're getting ready to throw the baby out with the bath water! There is a far, far easier way!

Unless the tiny return spring is damaged (which is really, really doubtful), those small contact-switches can be saved by a simple spray application of TV tuner cleaner.

The switch surfaces will get corroided because of infrequent use and will oxidize over time.

Radio/TV shops will tell you that it is no longer available and that it is against the law to sell it to you. Bunk. Wally-World has it by the truckloads at $2 a can.

I work with this stuff on a daily basis and haven't replaced a micro-switch since the early '80s. Try it. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

Allan

Ive never paid over a dollar for microswitches and a tv shop can check the switches and see they are bad.There are restrictions on the sale of tuner cleaner.These switches are pretty well sealed.When you get it fixed take it off the combine when not in use, store it in a heated place.Dont forget there are plenty of computer technicians that could handle the repair.Tuner cleaners have a lubricant in them so I wouldnt use them on this job.

This brings back memories..my dad, when he was alive, owned a small company that built "spy guy" RF gear for the military. He had 3 or 4 assembly people ( mostly women) that soldered components to printed circuit boards at their home, and brought them in when completed ( he paid by the piece). See if there are any Printed Circuit Board manufacturers in your area...they probably have an assembly person that could do it on the side. There are more of these companies around than you might think- two miles from my house here in Va there's Colonial Circuits.
Disassembly is best done with that solder wick that a prior poster mentioned- as he said, miniature gound strap that comes rolled in a can that looks like a flux can. The "expert" PC assemblers NEVER use flame or a Weller-type gun- they always used little pencil point soldering irons no more than 6" long, and also had little metal "soap trays" with wet sponges in them to clean the tip and keep temps down. heat is the enemy - it dstroys the board. The idea is to lay the wick over the solder, heat the wick with the iron and have it pull the solder off the backside of the component while you gently pull it off the board.

Clear back in the 1930's and maybe earlier they painted the cultivators red.

Two way radio shop can change those. If you try the contact cleaner, we heat up the switches with a hair dryer first. The switches are pretty well sealed up and when you cool them off with the cleaner it will suck some of it in. Most of the time it is better to bite the bullet and change the switch.

Thanks for the replies guys. I found a couple of tv repair shops in the Rochester phone book. Hard to imagine they do much soldering in todays throwaway world but I'am sure there are some older generation people that accually know how to fix things. As for fixing it my self I do most of my heating with a accethlene torch. I don't have the touch for things this small. These switchs are small and appear to be sealed so I don't know how well the contact cleaner would work but I will look into it. I have made turn signal switches work again in older trucks with contact cleaner but they are not sealed. LJ1000 this handle is for a german made 4435 hydro combine. Its been a very good machine with this being the only non wear item that's given trouble.

It looks like you can buy Deoxit from these people.
http://store.caig.com/

That board probably has a costing on it to keep out moisture, that will make working on it interesting, unless the person doing the soldering is used to working on industrial boards.