Dimmer switch

[dodj]

I want to disassemble one of my spare dimmer switches. 
The rheostat assy is held together by a clip that engage a groove in the shaft. See pic.
Is there a way to remove that clip without destroying it? 

[Jay Bee]

I never had any luck removing them without damage, BUT I did buy a few spares at either Canadian Tire, Lowes or Home Depot. Sorry, it was a while ago and I can't remember exactly which store.

[dodj]

Thanks jb. I'm thinking it is a one time use thing also. Replace with a circlip or similar i guess.

[YellowThumper]

Yes they are basically a single usage assembly.
Always has been a 40/60 for me with removals. If you can get something under it on both sides. Similar to wire cutters but the flush cut type. Use them to rock it back and forth and as circular as possible. This can kind of walk it up the shaft.
Sometimes effective.

[gzig5]

I've used two hook picks to get under the petals and pry them out a bit on similar ones.  If they don't break you can sometimes reform them so they will hold again.

[dodj]

I've used two hook picks

Ya, I used a hook pick and the clip snapped into two pieces. I'll have to look around for a suitable replacement.

Interestingly, I have about 4.0 - 4.5 ohm resistance over the riveted connections from one side of the board to the other. I guess I'll have to drill out those rivets, clean up and replace.

[Jay Bee]

I was at my Home Depot yesterday and checked, they didn't have the right size. Their smallest was 3/16, I believe you need a 1/8 "Push Nut Fastener"

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/paulin-3-16-push-nut-fastener-10p/1000146823

[Jay Bee]

@dodj well, Lowes didn't have any, Canadian Tire in Niagara Falls lost theirs in the move, Hillman's website doesn't show the 1/8 size anymore but Rona's website shows them. However, you have to order 100.
https://www.rona.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/RonaAjaxCatalogSearchView?storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&langId=-1&searchKey=RonaEN&content=&keywords=push+nut

I also found this place: H. Paulin & Co. Says they're a division of The Hillman Group but if Hillman doesn't carry them anymore how could they have them. Anyway, same deal, sold by the 100. Scroll down the PDF to their page 12 (Part# 242-406)
https://www.hpaulin.com/media/wysiwyg/pdf/BSF_712_2017_Body_Shop_Fasteners_WEB.pdf

Had I known these were going to be hen's teeth I would have bought all the ones from CTC back in the day.

[dodj]

Thanks Jay Bee 
I've been having the same luck locally. Really don't want a hundred of them..

[Jay Bee]

I don't know, what do you make of this. I hope they're real and not trying to fake us out with it being $1.11 X 25 for the pack.

https://cliphouse.com/av8863.aspx

[318Stroker]

I don't know, what do you make of this. I hope they're real and not trying to fake us out with it being $1.11 X 25 for the pack.

https://cliphouse.com/av8863.aspx

Should be 1.11 total for the 25.If you click "add to cart", the shopping cart has a price of 1.11.

[dodj]

I don't know, what do you make of this. I hope they're real and not trying to fake us out with it being $1.11 X 25 for the pack.

https://cliphouse.com/av8863.aspx

I'll try it out and let you know. Looks like they have a lot of stuff. I'll peruse their wares a bit before I order. Probably end up spending fifty or a hundred bucks...

[Jay Bee]

I wonder what their shipping charge would be from Texas to Ontario. Maybe I'll experiment with an order and cancel it just before a "Pay Now" button.

[anlauto]

Are you sure it's 1/8", that seems big...I buy 1/8" ones from NAPA for heater control cables etc...

[Jay Bee]

I just measured my spare dimmer, the shaft that protrudes from its back was .124 inches or 3.15 mm.