Bongo Fury

Has anyone else noticed their electric blinds seem reluctant to move in the cold weather? Mine take a few pushes of the switches to get them to operate, and I wondered if the motors were freezing up? They're fine when it's not so cold.

Ill go and have a play right now and report back in five mins ....

Maybe the sliders down the sides could do with a little greasing/oiling, graphite might be better ?
Are they on the L/B that might be a little lower in voltage given the temperature as well.

All fine and dandy here - not driven it for 3 hrs and then only a 10 miles so not v warm in any case. I am in Berks - biting cold but no snow here now (dusting last night).

don't use the electrics....just pull/push 'em by hand

g8dhe wrote:Maybe the sliders down the sides could do with a little greasing/oiling, graphite might be better ?
Are they on the L/B that might be a little lower in voltage given the temperature as well.

I'll try greasing them but as I say they are fine when it's not as cold as at present which is why I thought the weather was to blame. They are run from the starter battery and the engine starts first time so it's not that.... Puzzling!

have this problem with my o/s master switch. It can take repeated pressing to get blinds to operate, then they settle. I think the switch is probably a little tired (perhaps age and infrequent use have allowed oxide to get on the contacts?). Try a clean (maybe a squirt of lectrical contact cleaner or w.h.y.)?

Just checked ours out.. they're fine and ours has been sitting in the street since Sunday and it's -2 here today

mikeonb4c wrote:have this problem with my o/s master switch. It can take repeated pressing to get blinds to operate, then they settle. I think the switch is probably a little tired (perhaps age and infrequent use have allowed oxide to get on the contacts?). Try a clean (maybe a squirt of lectrical contact cleaner or w.h.y.)?

That's what mine do, maybe the problem starting in the cold weather is a coincidence? Will get my brother in law to take a look when he services it. Thanks!

This may well help...!? http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... mouse+mung

bongo frenzee wrote:

mikeonb4c wrote:have this problem with my o/s master switch. It can take repeated pressing to get blinds to operate, then they settle. I think the switch is probably a little tired (perhaps age and infrequent use have allowed oxide to get on the contacts?). Try a clean (maybe a squirt of lectrical contact cleaner or w.h.y.)?

That's what mine do, maybe the problem starting in the cold weather is a coincidence? Will get my brother in law to take a look when he services it. Thanks!

Mine starts up in the the cold weather too - I think it must trigger the switch problem. I have a spare I keep meaning to fit, but in 4yrs its never actually totally packed up (just needs repeated attempts for a minute or two and then it comes alive usually)

Just dirty contacts in the front switch.. If the contacts are dirty even at rest, it will affect the operation of the other two switches at the back on the relative side blind loom... Extreme cold could be hardening the dirt on the contacts, making it less reliable than in the summer... The contacts get quite fouled up with what looks like old ball computer mouse mung.

I've done a few of these switches (including my own) for people at meets & stuff... Always seems to be the same!

jaylee wrote:Just dirty contacts in the front switch.. If the contacts are dirty even at rest, it will affect the operation of the other two switches at the back on the relative side blind loom... Extreme cold could be hardening the dirt on the contacts, making it less reliable than in the summer... The contacts get quite fouled up with what looks like old ball computer mouse mung.

I've done a few of these switches (including my own) for people at meets & stuff... Always seems to be the same!

Are they easy to take out, strip down and clean jaylee?

Yep, Unclip the back of the switch, remove the innards making sure you don't loose anything & clean the 6 points of contact with the two metal rockers... That's 4 poles & the 2 negatives they cradle in on the pivot of the rocker bend that look brass like & run through slots in the white board/holder thing... A bit of fine grade wet & dry'll do it!! All will become apparent... 10 min job in the warm if you bring the switches indoors!??

There is grease on the top side of the two pivot contacts where the black plastic mechanical rocking action of the switch swings two arms with little springs in adjusts the position of the two contacts in tandem, this acts as a lube as the plastic pushed against the metal... NO lube should be & need not be on the underside where it connects to the board with the pins that run out the back!

I know these switches inside out having sorted 3 Bongo's worth with the same blind problems at the Southern softies meet earlier this year.. A similar assembly is used for the AFT & Sunroof on the tintop too!

I am sluggish when it is cold as well.
How can I fix the problem?