Marshall footswitch Clean/overdrive OD1/OD2 - need help

[arma61]

Hi guys

most of you probably has a footswitch like this



does anybody now how it works, I've been asked to fix a non-working one, I've opened it and find that there's no continuity among any of the wires on the switches and the stereo jack, is that normal? I suppose I must get continuity on those connection (at least operating the switches), so I'm just checking before to by 20ft of 3 wires cable!

is it a possible easy fix? just change the cable!

As usually many thanks m8s
Armando

[kurtlives]

Stereo cable
So two "hot" connections and a sleeve.

My guess...
The two hot connections carry a connection back to a relay coil. There is a switch inside that shorts the hot connector to the sleeve. Judging by the fact there is LEDs I would say the sleeve carries a voltage (5V, 9V, 12V). So when you short the sleeve to the hot connection the relay is energized and the switching occurs.

Check the cable for continuity. Make sure the switches are working. Look for loose wires/bad connections.

[arma61]

thx m8,

I've checked switches, they all work, in both positions they make good contact and DMM beeps, but there's no contact among the switches' pins and the jack, so I take it's just a bad (or most probably broken-somewhere) cable, isn't it?

Armando

[slacker]

I had one of those and both the wires in the cable broke.

[Ronsonic]

The wires in the cable break and not necessarily near the ends the way they're supposed to.

Replace the whole cable and be done.

[arma61]

tried to cut away a piece of cable on one end, still no contacts, cut on the other end I can get contact sometime when I twist the cable!, so definitely broken somewere in between! so changed the cable (witn a LAN patch cable !, just for testing) , it'll be tested tomorrow, hopefully will be ok. will report back

thx again m8s.
Armando

[Ronsonic]

Toldya.

I've walked this dog around the block a couple of times and the view never changes.

[arma61]

yep! it works, going out tomorrow for a pice of stero cable, don't think the LAN patch cable will last long!

Thx m8s!!

  = two happy guys, the switch owner and myself!

[twabelljr]

I put a jack in the back of my footswitch like that where the cable entered (the one switch version) to eliminate the hardwired cable. Mine used a mono jack so it seems like a stereo jack would work for that model.  That frees up the box (no cable dangling from it to wrap up) and you can use any length of cable you need. If the cable breaks, only a cable is needed. No more internal work.  

[arma61]

thx, I was offering this solution this morning to the guy, he's quite happy he can leave now the footswitch on the pedalboard  just waiting to get it back and check the hole on the back, but I take from your words it can be done easily !

Thx
Armando

[twabelljr]

The hole is a little bigger than you would make it if you drilled it yourself. Not a completely snug fit. I am not a gigging guitar player so it works fine for me and the jack washers cover the hole and it tightens up nicely. You may have a washer that will center it up nicely in the opening. I hope it works out for you whatever you decide!