Refurbishing electrical contacts

[andrewsmith]

As per the title, I'm wanting to refurbish the electrical contact on my old switch gear from the bike.

The ones in need of work are the 'pass switch' and horn (the large plate contacts) but I'm doing the whole lot while its in bits.

Whats the best way to go about it

Thanks in advance
Andy

[Sid Squid]

WD40/the squirty spray that you already have in your toolbox, and a light scrub with a wire brush, preferably brass.
For a final polish use some firm paper - it's quite abrasive and will leave a nice smooth polished finish.
Don't forget to squirt whatever spray you have into the holes in the switchgear every now and again - then you won't need to take it apart to clean it again.

[tigersaw]

Agreed. Electrical contacts can be cleaned by pulling a business card between them - I used to moonlight fixing pinball machines and they are full of contacts. Never use anything too abrasive like sandpaper or a file, it will destroy the contact surface and it will fail again very quickly.

[andrewsmith]

cheers lads.
Would a steel emery board be alright for the final finish?

[Bibio]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Servisol-Super-10-Switch-%26-Contact-Cleaner_W0QQitemZ260433010389QQcmdZViewItem

[tigersaw]

cheers lads.
Would a steel emery board be alright for the final finish?

Not really. Switch contacts are soft, you need to clean them with something softer