[TowerTalk] MD-75 drum switch replacement

[David]

I have a US Towers HDX-555 tower with the MD-75 motor.  It came with a drum switch (up, down)  that I mounted on a post next to the tower.  The first one rusted out after about 5 years and I bought a new one from US Towers in 2008 for $38.   Well, it’s been five more years and the switch has rusted out and no longer works again.   I used silicon caulking on the one I bought in 2008 hoping it would help stop moisture from getting inside, but I opened it up and it’s all corroded and the red handle even broke off.

So, I call US Towers yesterday to order my third switch.   Price?   $143 plus shipping!!   Talk about inflation, almost four times what I paid for it five years ago?  Holy mackeral.  So, I looked at the label on the old switch and did a Google search for “Dayton 2x440a drum switch”.   Amazon has the identical switch for $50.46, Grainger for $70.43.   

So, if you’re MD-75 motor switch goes kuputt, fortunately there’s an alternative to spending $143 for one from US Towers.