This is silly, but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to remove a footswitch

[GuitarZero]

I don't know if this is the right forum to ask this, but I'm trying to replace a footswitch in "Voicelive 3 Extreme" vocal effect pedal. The soldering of the footswitch is ridiculously easy with just two connectors and the replacement part costs a few dollars, whereas a repair by authorized repair service costs hundreds. Now if only I could remove the bugger and get this done with...

This is the replacement footswitch. Simple thing, comes with two nuts for attaching: https://www.conrad.com/p/tru-compon...50-v-ac-3-a-1-x-offon-momentary-1-pcs-1587726

Here is the front panel view of the footswitch. You can see there is a led ring around the footswitch shaft that covers the top nut, meaning I cannot get to it to detach the footswitch. The led ring doesn't seem to have any way to be removed from the top here.




Here is the inside view of the footswitch. You can see it is attached to a circuit board that connects a row of footswitches. You can also see the bottom nut here underneath the circuitboard. It seems that the circuitboard itself is held in place by the footswitches only.




And here is a side view, which might be the key to the puzzle. There is a big but very thin nut between the circuitboar and the front panel. I assume this is the key to take apart this whole thing, because I cannot figure out anything else. I assume this big nut is what somehow keeps the led ring thing in place. If I was able to unscrew this big nut here, maybe the led ring on top would come off and then allow me to remove the footswitch? The problem is that I cannot for the life of me figure out if there is even a tool available for screwing this nut that is jammed in about a 1-2mm space between a circuitboard and front panel, and also with very limited space around.



Is there any way you could think of to either:
A) Be able to unscrew that big nut in the third picture?
B) Some other way to remove the footswitch?

Just to recap the problem... It seems the circuitboard cannot be removed without removing footswitches. The footswitches probably cannot be removed without removing the led rings. The led rings cannot be removed without removing circuitboard, unless somehow with that big nut there. What a pickle.

Thanks for any help!

 

[73's de Edd]

Thanks for any help!
Why 'soitanly !

Here's your $100 of sheltered trade secret special information

The problem is that I cannot for the life of me figure out if there is even a tool available for screwing this nut that is jammed in about a 1-2mm space between a circuit board and front panel, and also with very limited space around.

If you have ever assembled any knock apart furniture that is boxed and you assemble it.
They / some units supplied you with a thin sheet metal stamped out hex wrench . . . almost of the throw away category . . .unless you direly needed one in the future. Looks like that might be what you need now.
BUT . . . with it being a fully enclosed . . . hex . . . 6 sided unit, expect to have to use your Dremel tool with a cut off wheel ( or hacksaw) to cut off the outermost apexed two hex sides. Thus you have converted from a closed box wrench to an open sided one.
THEN that converted mini slim unit will slide in your CRAMPED access and release compressing pressure of that rear internal hex nut and thereby let the relieved pressure on that frontal most internally threaded black Bakelite ring, then , be able to be spun off by hand.
If having no wrench as I described, you may have to hand fabricate, either by Cut off wheel or hacksaw + file, one made from an adequately thick gauge sheet metal scrap . . . . . thus, fabricating your own custom "thinny" hex wrench !
In the cramped access you also may also need to use the old mechanics . . . . wrench on nut . . .loosen 60 degrees (hex) . . .reposition wrench, rotate to loosen another 60 degrees . . .yada . . .yada . . .yada . . . . until the released pressure, lets the front totally slick threaded ring, then be spun off.

73's de Edd . . . . .

Think that you are so DAMN smart . . . . then, just give me ANY 10-digit prime number . . . that comes just off the top of your head !

.

 

[Martaine2005]

The ‘black ring’ should unscrew. The LED light pipe will then either unscrew or lift off revealing a top nut.
You may need to use tweezers or something to go in each side of the jack from the top. You can see small rectangular openings either side.

Martin

 

[73's de Edd]

Our most ESTEEMED . . . Martaine (yep, ALL 2005 of 'em) . . . sez . . . .
You may need to use tweezers or something to go in each side of the jack from the top. You can see small rectangular openings either side.
Those longitudinal slots . . . . what looks like micro Woodruff key slots . . . . and there is usually being just ONE.
Now . . . . a 'hunnert years ago . . . it (they?)were used to mate into a corresponding "tooth tab" on a frontal cover plate, to hold it in position, from rotating circularly on installation.
Nowadays, about all I see still using it, is the mini tabs of toggle handle power off-on frontal switch plates.

 

[Alec_t]

The ‘black ring’ should unscrew.

Agreed. A couple of small screwdriver blades pushing on those two little lugs/slots should be able to rotate the ring or top nut ant-clockwise.

 

[73's de Edd]

I don't believe that the REQUIRED DEGREE of rotational torque attainable by youse guys use of the mini longitudinal keying slots in the control /switch shaft . . . . could even START to accomplish the initially required loosening up.
In considering . . . . . that there is being no key tooth in the panel . . . . . I would instead press HARD into what slick surfactal area is afforded by that threaded frontal black Bakelite ring, while using the offset rectangular shape of the switch proper, as a handle and thereby rotate the whole switch (after first clipping loose, its two "wars" ) to see if combined nuts would initially loosen up slightly. After initial loosening up, sequential prods to a hex lobe with a standard screwdriver tip should rotate a nut loose.
This, if not having or making the prior suggested "skinny", open end wrench.

 

[Delta Prime]

Those are all wonderful suggestions this is how you crack that bad boy open!
Sawzall....