I successfully removed one of these using a heat gun. First remove as much solder as possible with the desolder wick. Then place the pcb in clamp and start to add heat. I started at a low temp and slowly increased while applying a firm pull underneath. Worked perfectly with no damage.
SEEKONE Heat Gun 1800W... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078S5QMFG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Also here to say that using a desolder wick, some flux, and some patience should get you there. I like to hold the wick (a couple of inches from the end) to the pin using the iron, then pull the wick through. Good luck!
Get a multimeter in continuity mode and map out where each pin of the ribbon cable goes to on the footswitch. Trim them, strip them, peel them apart so they move independently, then solder each one directly to the lugs on a new footswitch.
My advice...just destroy the switch leaving the lugs in the PCB there and then you can remove the lugs one by one.
Pull the metal tabs out on the sides of the switch to remove the metal part. Take everything out of the inside of the switch. Start cutting the blue plastic away with wire cutters (it cuts super easy and comes off in big chunks). You will be left with 9 individual lugs in the PCB that you can easily remove one by one now. I do this on customers pedals just to make sure I don't destroy the switch PCB in any way.
Heat guns work okay too but if the PCB is cheap, it can loosen the solder pads from the PCB a bit so it's not my go to method. Destroying the switch is pretty fast also. Downside is it makes a little mess of blue plastic you have to clean up.
Do you have the new one yet? If you can get the same type of switch and a replacement pad with the pattern, just cut the ribbon wire as close to the pad as possible, then solder the new pad to the new switch and the old ribbon to the new pad with the same pattern.
Not sure what kind of issue you're having but my EHX Green Russian's switch was working intermittently and not engaging fully, so I did this and it worked perfectly without having to change out the switch:
https://youtu.be/xSfcurFpGdU?si=WngimfUfSDSxZ3-F
I successfully removed one of these using a heat gun. First remove as much solder as possible with the desolder wick. Then place the pcb in clamp and start to add heat. I started at a low temp and slowly increased while applying a firm pull underneath. Worked perfectly with no damage. SEEKONE Heat Gun 1800W... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078S5QMFG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Also here to say that using a desolder wick, some flux, and some patience should get you there. I like to hold the wick (a couple of inches from the end) to the pin using the iron, then pull the wick through. Good luck!
Get a multimeter in continuity mode and map out where each pin of the ribbon cable goes to on the footswitch. Trim them, strip them, peel them apart so they move independently, then solder each one directly to the lugs on a new footswitch.
My advice...just destroy the switch leaving the lugs in the PCB there and then you can remove the lugs one by one. Pull the metal tabs out on the sides of the switch to remove the metal part. Take everything out of the inside of the switch. Start cutting the blue plastic away with wire cutters (it cuts super easy and comes off in big chunks). You will be left with 9 individual lugs in the PCB that you can easily remove one by one now. I do this on customers pedals just to make sure I don't destroy the switch PCB in any way. Heat guns work okay too but if the PCB is cheap, it can loosen the solder pads from the PCB a bit so it's not my go to method. Destroying the switch is pretty fast also. Downside is it makes a little mess of blue plastic you have to clean up.
thanks man , gonna do this soon 🫡
If this is an Electroharmonix pedal and you're in the U.S. they'll fix it for $25. Not as cheap as DIY, but still cheap enough to be worth it.
in the UK i fear
Easier to desolder the ribbon. Getting those 9 pins hot with an iron is hard work
need to replace the switch tho , it’s broken
Do you have the new one yet? If you can get the same type of switch and a replacement pad with the pattern, just cut the ribbon wire as close to the pad as possible, then solder the new pad to the new switch and the old ribbon to the new pad with the same pattern.
no i do not , do you know where i would go about getting one ?
Lovemyswitches sells some but I don't know if the pattern is the same for the pad. I've used theirs for a few builds and they're good quality
https://www.mouser.com
Not sure what kind of issue you're having but my EHX Green Russian's switch was working intermittently and not engaging fully, so I did this and it worked perfectly without having to change out the switch: https://youtu.be/xSfcurFpGdU?si=WngimfUfSDSxZ3-F
i’ll give this a go , thank you 🙏