Cruddy 3-way Switch

[brewster]

i've searched a bit, only found one related thread which didn't answer my question.

i have an unmolested epi es-175 premium, not played real often.
had it out tonight, the 3 way p-up switch was now erratic, variously cutting in/out. eventually it seemed to get to mostly work on all 3 settings, but i wouldn't trust it at a gig.

is there a way to clean that w/o pulling the switch?
if you have to drop the switch to clean it, what is the trick so you can get it back into the original mounting hole?
thanks!

[AllanAllen]

I think you can just spray deoxit on the shaft and jiggle it. I would just jiggle it a bit and see if that works the crud off, since I don’t have a can of deoxit.

[garybaldy]

Once fixed it pays to leave the switch in the middle position when stored.

[pingu]

with mine

I tied some dental floss to it
before undoing the retaining nut

I managed to fish it out of the
neck pickup hole and changed
the whole switch to a switchcraft unit

totally worth doing , (mine was a cheapo korean sealed box unit)

[BBGuitar]

I worked as an electronic technician for 39 years in one of the largest research centers in the world.

In our shop squirt cans of cleaners were not allowed.

Dirty switches and pots were replaced.

If replacements were not available, they were disassembled cleaned and lightly greased with a special contact grease.

[pingu]

with mine

I tied some dental floss to it
before undoing the retaining nut

I managed to fish it out of the
neck pickup hole and changed
the whole switch to a switchcraft unit

totally worth doing , (mine was a cheapo korean sealed box unit)

[lammie200]

As others have said it is best to replace it if you can. It may not be dirt that is causing the issue. It could be the way the springs work as contacts. If it is sealed switch you won't be able to get to those pieces. If it a conventional type you will be able to get to them but they are probably too weak to work properly.