Switchgear and buttons lube ?

[Panman40]

I can’t help thinking the switchgear / buttons and wonderwheel on my 2019 RT feel a bit clicky and well…cheap . I’ve tried a small squirt of a silicone spray which won’t hurt plastics but doesn’t really do anything.
Is there something on the market which might lube the various switches and buttons so they feel a little smoother ?.

[David.]

This is typically what the internals of a combination switch look like. (Ignore the white wire, that is a repair).
I'm not really sure that lubricating the switchgear actually achieves anything other than the plastic switch or button within the cover.

[David.]

This guy takes the switch apart to clean it and uses WD-40.

[Elkinell]

I can’t help thinking the switchgear / buttons and wonderwheel on my 2019 RT feel a bit clicky and well…cheap . I’ve tried a small squirt of a silicone spray which won’t hurt plastics but doesn’t really do anything.
Is there something on the market which might lube the various switches and buttons so they feel a little smoother ?.

It's most likely the action of the microswitches behind the buttons that feels cheap usually as a result of platic dust from using the switch itself. These microswitches can have a waterproof cover so spraying from the outside might not help. WD40 in my experience is great at first but dries out into a white powder eventually which can give it's own problems.

[Panman40]

Thanks, so not really much can be done, from the corrosion my bike had when I bought it I’m sure it was used year round so plenty of rain etc. I’ll leave well alone

[Excellence]

Personal and very humble opinion - I wouldn't let WD40 anywhere near plastics/nylon or delicate low voltage/low pressure switchgear. Being a fairly mild solvent it leeches colour, leaves a residue which isn't very kind to electrical contacts, can damage solder joints and in some plastics but mostly in nylon casings, can cause swelling enough to lead to movement being stalled. It was always fine to use it in the distributor of the Morris Minor but - those days on our bikes are gone - sadly.
A brief spray with a fast drying fairly astringent solvent seems to perform better with a spray of silicon to follow for re-lubrication.
Working out how to get at the internals that feel 'not right' without causing inadvertent damage is the real issue.
My preference is to apply repeated sprays of silicon as deep into any switchgear cracks/joints that I can see in the hope that some of it gets through.
I have to admit that my motto is that if it's not actually broken - don't try to actually fix it!
Never had any switchgear jam up though I do agree that sometimes the whizzwheel on my '21 RT does feel a bit cheap and the menu and direction indicator buttons can seem 'sticky' in operation.

[Cornish_Camhead]

I use the WD40 specialist range contact cleaner, I had an issue with the cruise control switch not working. Used the contact cleaner and its been fine ever since for the last five years or so. so gets my vote.

[Our Gee]

I use the WD40 specialist range contact cleaner, I had an issue with the cruise control switch not working. Used the contact cleaner and its been fine ever since for the last five years or so. so gets my vote.

That's interesting, as the "Slide Across" cruise switch on my own 2011 Twincam is quite stiff and not that positive. Did you disassemble the switch to apply the Contact Cleaner or just give it a squirt externally ?. Thanks.

[David.]

"In this video I disassemble and re-assemble/teardown the left hand multifunction switch from my 2014 K52 R1200RT."

[David.]

Found this thread on Adventure Rider, https://www.advrider.com/f/threads/2013 ... r.1251430/



"I removed the turn signal kill button, cleaned it and it's working again.

The only problem I'm running into now is trying to figure out the epoxy or resin used to weatherproof the buttons to the circuit board.

Notice the button with the arrow. I had to remove this to remove water damage and clean the contacts. Notice the resin around it that needs to be resealed."

[Cornish_Camhead]

That's interesting, as the "Slide Across" cruise switch on my own 2011 Twincam is quite stiff and not that positive. Did you disassemble the switch to apply the Contact Cleaner or just give it a squirt externally ?. Thanks.

Hi our gee, I didn't disassemble anything, I just gave all the switchgear nooks and crannies a good blasting and operated the switches etc.
The product says on the tin its rubber and plastic compliant and I've had no issues since, I tend to do this after either washing the bike or when I've ridden in the rain etc as a sort of preventative maintenance.

[Our Gee]

Thanks for that Cornish Camhead, I'll give that a go.