Jet mini switch failure

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stevers

stevers

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Bullhead City, Az., USA.
Hi All,
Well It's my turn. The switch has been acting up for a few weeks now. Tonight it failed, right in the middle of turning a pen. When I was done with the pen, I took the switch out of the housing (this is a VS). It is made in such a way that it can be disassembled fairly easy. So I did. It's not the first time I have repaired a cheap toggle switch. The rocker under the toggle was out of place and goobered up with carbon. It is also slightly damaged, so this repair may only be temporary. I did what I could to get it back into position. It works for now. In the meantime, I'll contact Jet and see if I can get them to send me a replacement. Wish me luck.
 
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Hey, get two!!!

I replaced the switch with a simple toggle switch years ago, now it is coming out, so further action will be required. (Originally, it was supposed to be a "quicky repair". It has lasted 4-5 years.

OH, This is the one in the basement, it is NOT a VS, so the switch is different. SORRY!!![:0][:0][:0]
 
Originally posted by gerryr
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Originally posted by ed4copies
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OH, This is the one in the basement, it is NOT a VS, so the switch is different. SORRY!!![:0][:0][:0]
Click to expand...

As opposed to the one in the dining room?????????[:D]
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No, as opposed to the one in the trailer that gets used only for demonstrations at shows -- IT is a VS.

Thanks for asking!!![:D][:D][:D]
 
Gerry, you got me again, ROTFLMAO.
The switch quit already. My repair job didn't last long. Guess I'll be going to the parts store tomorrow. Oh darn. [}:)]
 
Went to Lowe's last night and got a switch. $4.50. Still pretty cheaply made, but I've never really seen a well made one. It's all pressed together crap. Wounder how tough it would be to swap it for some sort of safety type toggle switch? Or if it would even last any longer?
 
Originally posted by stevers
<br />Went to Lowe's last night and got a switch. $4.50. Still pretty cheaply made, but I've never really seen a well made one. It's all pressed together crap. Wounder how tough it would be to swap it for some sort of safety type toggle switch? Or if it would even last any longer?
Click to expand...

Steve: It may just be personal prejudice on my part; but I have always been a little leery of the rocker switches in most equipment.....I'm guessing the rocker switches used on the space shuttle are pretty good!! If you have a Radio Shack store close by. why don't you try a heavy duty toggle switch?(One with a metal toggle rather than a plastic one) It will take a little extra effort to install as they require a round mounting hole rather than a rectangular one; but that should be easy to overcome.

Added: I had a feeling something wasn't right when I wrote the above and after checking further, figured out I was just blowing smoke. The control box for the VS already uses a toggle switch so for get the comments about the rocker switch. But I still think you might find a better quality switch at Radio Shack.

Another thing you could do is bypass the switch, altogether. Get yourself back to Lowe's and buy a double electrical box, a receptacle and a regular old wall switch. Wire it up so the switch controls the receptacle and then plug your lathe into the "switch box." Should cost you about the same as you paid for the toggle switch. You will also meed a male plug and a few feet of 12 or 14 gauge wire; but if you are like me, you probably have that in your junk box salvaged from some other piece of equipment that has gone to tool heaven.

Another alternative would again be to wire around the switch in the lathe and buy one of the foot operated switches. Some people like them, some don't. This will be a more expensive solution as I think those things run around $25-$30.

And as you mentioned before, you could get one of those safety interlock lever switches like the non-VS JET mini uses and mount it in the existing hole in the casting. Only problem with that solution is the JET safety switch also has a rep for being unreliable and running wiring for it might require a bit of ingenuity. All of this is by way of future reference for others with the same problem as hopefully, the switch you purchased from Lowe's will live a long and useful life.
 
Ya know Randy, I really like the foot peddle switch idea. I would just have to make sure I could keep it out of my way. I have the lathe bolted to the bench anyway. So maybe the wall switch idea could work as well. Like you said, I have all sorts of junk in boxes under cabinets. Good suggestions, thanks Randy.
 
Mine went out a few months ago so I just ran sone jumpers to a utility box with a standard light switch and mounted it under the work bench. I used crimp on connectors and when the replacement switch came, I just rolled up the jumpers and put them back under the bench..This way if it happens again I can be back up and running in 5 minutes instead of 15
 
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