I know this is one of many complaints about this product, about a year ago I bought 4 for a new layout. Two had problems out of the box so I returned them. By that point I had dug through the parts box and had found I had one with a minor problem, (paint had been splashed on it and it gummed up the rail. Since I was waiting for my replacements to come back decided to see if I could fix this one. Classic problem it had happened while putting a base layer down on adjoining section and hadn't realized I had dripped paint, I should have covered the finished area but thought I wasn't going near it.
In any case to my surprise it cleaned up and worked better than any of the four new switches so it stayed in place. Two days ago I began work on adding a siding and took the new one not used a year ago and sitting on the shelf off of the shelf. Put in the bench tested it and low and behold same problem as the two I had sent back. I should have of course tested it when it came back but since one worked assumed this one would and yes I know what assumptions turn you into. So no this *** is stuck with a broken switch as of course the warranty is just about up and I don't have the paperwork so sending it back is pointless.
In any case as so many other tales of woe with these switches I won't carry on too much about poor quality control -- this is just one more example. I have opened it up and found the reason the switch won't lock in the straight position is the bracket that holds the bail and string that are used to lock it in place is cracked. It also appears the crack was done at the factory because the small PC board below that corner of the bracket is slightly misplaced and a wire connects where the leg of the bracket should fit. As such if you tighten the bracket to sit flat you'll crack the arm that holds one side of the bail. I noticed that the other side of the switch had a similar bracket, I am wondering if they can be swapped or if there is difference between the two sides. Assuming the two are interchangeable and I can solder the wire so its out of the way I could simply swap and move the bail and spring. Has anyone tried this?
Sorry for the poor picture but hard to get close enough and maintain focus. The broken piece is the gray plastic piece with the bail and spring on the right side of the photo.
