Lawnmower

Gaining access to the broken switch.

The lawnmower would not start even with a full battery.

The rust on the two springs at the bottom of the switch was preventing the throw from making contact.

I oiled them up and exercised the throw until they loosened up and operated normally.

The picture shows four moving contacts, two fixed upper contacts, and two fixed lower contacts. All the contacts are separated by a few inches from the springs the corroded metal plate that they are attached to.

The picture shows the switch in the open position with the four movable contacts pushed upward by the springs and making contact with the two fixed upper contacts.

When the switch closes to allow electricity to flow to the mower, the springs push the four moving contacts down to make contact with the two lower fixed contacts.

The distance that the throw can move is visible as the distance that the metal plate attached to the springs can move between the black plastic walls.