Yay, starter button is dying

[70 Cam Guy]

Well I get out of class this morning and go to start my bike except that nothing happens.  So I called my buddy and met up with him at school.  We took the light rail back to his car so I could get a ride home.  We went back to school with some tools and I did some sidewalk troubleshooting.  It did turn out to be my starter button.

I know a few of you have had the problem so I have a couple questions.  When you replace the button, is it the little parts inside the housing or is it that whole piece of the control?  Is there a temporary fix that will make it work for the time being?  I thought about getting a button from radioshack if the dealer is out of stock.  It seems to make contact if you fiddle with the button but I'd rather not rely on that.

Thanks all

This sort of thing really makes me want a newer bike.  It hasn't been anything real big on mine but kind of little things lately.  It just hurts my confidence in the reliability of my bike.  Its got me worried now that it'll leave me stranded again or something

[The Buddha]

Every few years I put a dot of solder in the switch to make it contact easier. So that may be what you need. I put just a little and file it down smooth so its just in the right spot. Common issue and I dont see how new bikes are immune to this...bikes that have had a lot fewer miles (and hence fewer starts) also have had this issue. However no other bike of mine has. Cos most of them make body contact to the handle bar...
Cool.
Srinath.