Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hello all, I have recently registered to the forums recently after lurking around here for quite a while.

I have a Rickenbacker 650D I ordered new in 2000. For a while now, the pickup selector switch has been sticking when in the up position. And requires quite a bit of force to free it from that selection. I have opened the wiring cavity and notice that it is a lot more simplistic of a mechanical design then I think I imagined.

The rubber (I Believe?) grommet on the end of the pin gets wedged firmly to the flange on the extruding node. I positioned the flanges a little differently so that it has an easier transition but I am getting a crackling sound when I switch from one to the other.

The crackling sound actually has been going on for a while while switching positions. Longer than the sticking, so I am wondering if I should be ordering a new toggle switch and avoid toying with it or if anyone had any advice or guidance they would like to share with me.

I can take photos if needed but with all the chrome, it takes a while to get a good picture of anything mounted to the pick guard.

Thanks!

sounds like loose switch - when you look from the bottom you see this plastic black blob (you called it nicely "rubber grommet") in the middle it probably needs to be pushed back a bit.

The crackling sound is dirt on the tiny contact buttons you see on the switch leaves. Look closely at the shiny metal leaves and you'll see that the actual contact duties are taken on by those little black button-like discs. Corrosion and dirt can interfere with a clean transfer of electrical energy between any two of them.

To repair, cut a thin (1/4" wide) strip of very fine (600 grit) sandpaper, about 2 to 3 inches long. Pass it between these contacts while they are engaged (switch in the center position), then flip it over to clean the other contact in the pair. Next, do the other pair in the same manner. This should clean them up just fine.

Most other issues with these simple mechanical switches can be remedied by observing how the switch plunger itself interacts with the leaves. A bit of observation while you move the switch into its positions, will give a cue as to how to carefully and subtly bend one or more leaves to correct the switch action.

Welcome to the forum, Justin. If you follow the above advice, I'm sure you'll be able to get the switch working like new again.

Thanks guys I appreciate the suggestions. I will attempt to clean the contacts. When I did reposition the leaves a bit the gap in the center got a little too big and the center position feels a bit sloppy. I will be playing with it a bit more later.