5 way switch cracking and cutting in and out

dean111music

I have a 93 mij strat that I’m giving some love as it’s a friends and needs a bit of work as it’s been left in a loft.

i have done everything apart from electronics, plugged her in and neck pickup fine, switch it pos 4 crackling, same with pos 3 and 2 then 1 it cuts out the 3/4 secs later get signal.

Do I just use contact cleaner? Any recommendations?

also the trust rod is extremely tight... any tips to losen  it?

are these mij squire 93/94 strats worth much? 

ICBM

Replace the switch with a proper CRL switch - no other type. The stock switch on these older MIJ guitars is junk. Cleaning it might work, but only temporarily.

Take the truss rod nut right out and put a bit of standard automotive lithium grease in the thread and on the face of the nut, then it should turn more easily.

Funkfingers

dean111music said:

Any recommendations?

1) Make a sketch or take photographs of the wiring before you begin to disconnect anything. 

This will make it easier to translate between the physical layout of an eight-contacts-in-line selector switch and that of the CRL type that appears in the majority of schematic diagrams.

Generic Asian
1234 5678

CRL
5678
1234

2) The switch replacement task is an opportunity to revise the control functions.

For example, the bridge position pickup can be connected to the lower tone control pot. 

dean111music

ICBM said:

Replace the switch with a proper CRL switch - no other type. The stock switch on these older MIJ guitars is junk. Cleaning it might work, but only temporarily.

Take the truss rod nut right out and put a bit of standard automotive lithium grease in the thread and on the face of the nut, then it should turn more easily.

Great thanks! Any tips to get the barrel out?

dean111music

Funkfingers said:

dean111music said:

Any recommendations?

1) Make a sketch or take photographs of the wiring before you begin to disconnect anything. 

This will make it easier to translate between the physical layout of an eight-contacts-in-line selector switch and that of the CRL type that appears in the majority of schematic diagrams.

Generic Asian
1234 5678

CRL
5678
1234

2) The switch replacement task is an opportunity to revise the control functions.

For example, the bridge position pickup can be connected to the lower tone control pot. 

Thank you. Yes think that will be worth doing! 

ICBM

dean111music said:

Any tips to get the barrel out?

Unscrew it all the way… it should come out by itself if you hold the neck with that end pointing down.