Here is a Possible ThumbWheel Switch *SOLUTION*

[David Campbell 1461]

Oh ok. That’s what the schematic looks like.

 

[Nige]

not as far as im aware of. they do have a calibration wire in the pigtail but its not connected to the switch

Ain't neutral able to be calibrated on them rockers?

AFAIK that’s only on the PWM controls on later models, not the Hall Effect thumbwheels on the 1st & 2nd generation machines. The calibration wire on the thumbwheel pigtail harness is for a different (non-Cat) application of the switch I think.

 

[David Campbell 1461]

So… if there’s a different (non-cat) application would that switch be available somewhere else?
any way to determine the manufacturer?

 

[Nige]

So… if there’s a different (non-cat) application would that switch be available somewhere else?
any way to determine the manufacturer?

Maybe and no idea, sorry.
It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if Otto manufactured it specially for Cat and the calibration wire is simply part of their “standard” setup.

 

[Slacker802]

found out my magnet was half crumbled to bits yesterday, tried to JB weld it back together, no luck. I will try to replace the magnet. any tips on pole direction? i have some round rare earth ones i can make fit

 

[quiksilvr]

found out my magnet was half crumbled to bits yesterday, tried to JB weld it back together, no luck. I will try to replace the magnet. any tips on pole direction? i have some round rare earth ones i can make fit

I ended up cutting two tiny square, almost rectangle shape with the tops domed shape. and placing them with similar poles towards the inside (center) so they are facing each other. the magnets dont need to be super strong. just make sure they clear the sensor when u roll the switch in either direction. also make sure not to heat the magnet up when cutting it, it will lose its magnetism

 

[Slacker802]

so placing the cut magnet N/S pole in the right direction is not an issue? what kind of glue did you use?

 

[quiksilvr]

polarity does matter. i used super glue to hold it in place then jb weld in any gaps.for the hard to reach spots try warming the jb weld prior to mixing then pour it in the gaps b4 it cools too much

 

[Tim3]

Hello everyone, I have a possible solution to very popular "THUMBWHEEL SWITCH" problem that seems to plague these CAT skid-steers. I have managed to REPAIR the one in my 226b. I have also repaired 2 other switches for a couple members of this forum. One member had a 229d and the other had a 257b. I can not promise that i will be able to fix it, only that i will try my best to do so. The repair is only for when the magnet inside the switch has deteriorated or broken off. Basically, what i do is replace the magnet, which is easier said than done. I have been improving my technique and procedure and im at the point that ive got a reliable solution now. So anyone who is interested and willing to send me their switch, PM me and we will go from there.
To the Moderators of this forum, i hope im not violating any of the forums rules or policies, as it is not my intention to do so.

Are you able to ship just the magnet and I can glue it in?

 

[BigPapaphil1]

Are you able to ship just the magnet and I can glue it in?

Tim ill be testing my design in the morning to repair my Hall effect toggle switch off of my Case SR240 skid steer. My Switch is OTTO 21649 1648 HTW-0000060. Ill keep you posted if this design works. Fingers crossed. Still curious on quiksilvr's response...

 

[Nige]

My Switch is OTTO 21649 1648 HTW-0000060.

If that is the case there may be a difference between the two manufacturers. The Cat system powers the Hall Effect thumbwheel switch with 8v and Otto don't sell one, only 5v versions, according to their web site. @quiksilvr bought one of them for his Cat machine and couldn't make it work.

 

[BigPapaphil1]

If that is the case there may be a difference between the two manufacturers. The Cat system powers the Hall Effect thumbwheel switch with 8v and Otto don't sell one, only 5v versions, according to their web site. @quiksilvr bought one of them for his Cat machine and couldn't make it work.

Yes I understand I am taking a magnet approach not necessarily changing the switch. So far no luck.

 

[Junk equipment]

Hello all. I have contacted Otto and I am currently waiting on an engineer to contact me about the needs of the switch. I will update when I get a response from their engineering department. Is there anyway you could reference the voltages for the switch @Nige? It is for a 257 gen 1 bobcat.

 

[Junk equipment]

Hello all. I have contacted Otto and I am currently waiting on an engineer to contact me about the needs of the switch. I will update when I get a response from their engineering department. Is there anyway you could reference the voltages for the switch @Nige? It is for a 257 gen 1 bobcat.

Also do you know if the switch has 30 degrees of travel or 40 degrees?

 

[Nige]

Is there anyway you could reference the voltages for the switch @Nige? It is for a 257 gen 1 bobcat.

I'm afraid I have no information regarding the switches for Bobcat usage.
On a Cat machine the switch is powered by 8v.
Switch output voltage in with the thumbwheel in the centre should be approximately 4.0v.
Roll the switch fully in one direction the output voltage should decrease by 2.4-2.5v.
Roll the switch fully in the opposite direction the output voltage should increase by 2.4-2.5v.

Also do you know if the switch has 30 degrees of travel or 40 degrees?

I'm sorry I don't and have no access to a switch to measure it. Maybe someone else has that information.

 

[Junk equipment]

Hello all. I have contacted Otto and I am currently waiting on an engineer to contact me about the needs of the switch. I will update when I get a response from their engineering department. Is there anyway you could reference the voltages for the switch @Nige? It is for a 257 gen 1 bobcat.

Also do you know if the switch has 30 degrees of travel or 40?

I'm afraid I have no information regarding the switches for Bobcat usage.
On a Cat machine the switch is powered by 8v.
Switch output voltage in with the thumbwheel in the centre should be approximately 4.0v.
Roll the switch fully in one direction the output voltage should decrease by 2.4-2.5v.
Roll the switch fully in the opposite direction the output voltage should increase by 2.4-2.5v.

I'm sorry I don't and have no access to a switch to measure it. Maybe someone else has that information.

Otto reached out to me about my enquiry for a new switch. Here is the statement from the engineer.

“Our standard thumb wheels aren’t capable of going beyond 5.5 VDC unless otherwise PWM output.”

To my understanding the early model 257’s not the 257B do not use a pwm output.. has anyone verified this in any other threads?

 

[Junk equipment]

@Nige thanks for the timely responses. After talking with the OTTO some more, it went from a can’t to a we could achieve the desired switch input and outputs. On a “custom made” Hall effect switch, if I order a couple hundred a year. So that door is open if someone wants to take it, to possibly be a supplier of them. To the average Joe, the door is closed. With that being said, @quiksilvr what kind of magnet did you use to fix your switch? I saw a picture of the repair you made with the two square cut pieces. Possibly with jb weld in between them? Was that a standard black magnet or was it a neodymium?

 

[woodhq]

Just wanted to add the post that I have a 320D John Deere and it has the same switch and therefore the same issue. I’ve taken it apart and cleaned the magnet up and even shimmed the pins down so as to force the magnet downward. This worked for about an hour but then went back to not working again
So I decided that I have nothing to lose by messing g around as I have no aux now. So o mixed up some JB weld and very carefully applied it to the magnet I put in in some forced air heat so as to dry it a bit quick. Once it dried up about 50% I took a blade and smoothed out the JB. Then after letting it dry I carefully samded
The JB smooth. Altogether I maybe added a half mil or less to the magnet as well as filled where a little bit had crumbled away. Happy to say that it is working well and I have my aux back. Hopefully it stays working but if it don’t then maybe I’ll add a little more.

 

[Afink0]

i have to custom cut the magnets to fit inside the switch.

Are you still making these? We took apart our joystick and found ours was crumbled as well. Looking for a solution that doesn’t require replacing the whole joystick. Cat 236B

 

[archangel95]

I replaced the joystick in my 299d xhp because my thumb wheel quit working. I'd be willing to mail you the old one if you want another to experiment on.