Pickup selector switch - gets stuck (hardly moves)

[gibsonlp]

Hi guys.
My 1968 365/6 has an annoying problem -
The pickup selector switch can barely move, I need to push it pretty hard in order to toggle between the 2 pickups.
when I opened the guitar I noticed that the structure is pretty simple and there is nothing broken or anything, for some odd reason the end of the switch pole is simply "grabbing" the metal separators and their "wings" too hard.
If I manually relieve the pressure from the metal separators and the switch pole I can easily move it.

Has anyone encountered such a problem? how can I fix it?

Thanks!

[jingle_jangle]

You've already worked out what makes it stick. A few minutes with a pair of small needle-nosed pliers, judiciously bending the offending leaves, should get you to a place where the post doesn't hang up anymore. But without seeing a close-up photo, I can't tell you exactly how to bend them.

[gibsonlp]

Thanks,
Excuse me for the pics, I am not at home and this was not my camera

figuring out the problem is not that hard - finding a good way to fix it without breaking anything is another story

[jps]

What's with the corrosion on the switch?

[gibsonlp]

What corrosion?

[admin]

Gil: The white powdery substance. It looks as if this instrument has been in a humid location at some point. It is part of your problem in my view and it needs to be removed from the switch.

[gibsonlp]

Oh, now I see what you mean.
The problem was not in the contacts or in a jammed knob, I mean - the knob was jammed but only by the contact "ears".
This is now fixed and the help came from a totally unexpected source - my father!
My father came to visit us today and I showed him the problem, his answer was - "just grease it, the flaps on the contacts are okay and their job is to make sure the toggle will be held securely in the desired position".
And so I did - I used a minute amount of Vaseline-like substance I managed to find.

The selector switch is now moving as if it was brand new from the factory!

Never underestimate 65 years of life experience

Thanks for all the help guys.

[jingle_jangle]

Look at the photo--you'll need to slightly bend (arrows) the upper and lower leaf (see dotted lines). The lines are there for reference; you'll probably have to bend less than that--bend too far and the switch won't stay in place at all.

You could also place a bit of Vaseline on the switch tip where it contacts the leaves. I'd try this first, and if it doesn't work try the bending.

Use a small pair of needle-nosed pliers.

switchbend.jpg

Just saw your "fixed it" post. Glad the Vaseline worked. I'll let the answer stand in case some others might need to bend theirs sometime in the distant future...

[gibsonlp]

Thanks again.

[rickcrazy]

My now-gone June 1974 4001 had that very issue when I bought it (used) in early 1994. A little grease solved it.