How can I fix my pull-cord light switch?

Thanks for this thread which gave me what I needed to reassemble mine. Got a bit confused by the order and what was up and down but got there after realising the small jobby didn't have teeth that faced one way or the other but just sat (first) in the housing.

Rick
October 2022

Wonderful instructions, very clear and helpful

Sam
December 2017

12 years later and your instructions are still being read and used. Thank you for posting. Light pull works perfectly now

Nanny Donut
November 2017

Thank you Chris for saving our pull switch on third attempt we cracked it - when the light came on you'd have thought we'd won the lottery!

Jane
June 2016

Thanks so much from a very grateful (and not entirely diy competent) bloke

rob
May 2016

Thanks Chris! It was so hard to find this info - what a great clear explanation.

Claire
April 2016

Brill Gregory - that extra bit of info re: the smaller plastic bit was crucial!

John, Banbury
February 2016

7 years later: thanks Chris for your 2008 very clear answer about the light pull cord repair.

W & S

Wilma
August 2015

Thank you, just followed your instructions and saved myself calling out an electrician.

Linda
December 2014

See the answer from Chris below. It works! many thanks Chris

ps One way to help get cord through the small hole is to wrap sellotape around the end which stops the fraying.

Felix
December 2014

Good on yer Chris - with 3839 ways to do it wrong, it only took me about 3 or 4 shots (& hours) to do it right.
The problem was the small plastic jobby, which I persisted in sticking in upside down, & then spending more hours getting the cord through.
P.S. When I was a small boy (NZ about 60 years ago) "jobby" meant faeces (I blame my Scottish ancestry).
P.P.S. Your advice was free - could you nominate a charity for me to send £5 to?

Ross Anderson
November 2014

Thanks Chris

caroline
November 2014

Thanks Chris 2008, I can pee standing up now :)

sid
September 2014

Big thanks to Chris - this was the only place I could find instructions that applied to the light fixture I have, not to mention such good ones. Got it working again and am glad I stubbornly refused to buy a new one - it feels awesome fixing it myself!

MTP
August 2014

Fantastic Chris great help

Regards

Dan Evans

Daniel Evans
August 2014

Chris,

Genius, I cant tell you how much this has helped me!

Thanks,
Andy

Andy
May 2014

Thanks for the answer Chris I have been looking for this solution. Re the difficulty of threading the chord.If its Nylon burning the end with a cigarette lighter, match or gas ring and then quickly flattening with damp finger creates a harder bit on the end which can make the threading easier. This can work for shoelaces with frayed ends when trying to re-lace shoes etc..

John Plumridge
February 2014

Thank you ..to Chris for the answer and Daktari for the link..
Just another quick tip when threading the chord..start from the other end i.e untie the knot attached to the pull 'bell' and thread from the top down.the hole in the little plastic jobby is bigger at the top and not quite so fiddly

Chris Jones
January 2014

Brilliant answer Chris - I dismantled my pull-cord light switch with its broken cord and then followed your instructions to put it back together successfully and it worked!! The trickiest bits were rethreading the cord through the small plastic jobby - I used sellotape in the end to stop the end fraying and it stiffened it too making it easy to thread; also I got the small plastic jobby the wrong way up to begin with. I found these photos which were a great help:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=977456

daktari
January 2014

Those instructions were great, we found our 2 springs and metal and plastic jobbies and it all fitted perfectly! Thanks

H
January 2014

Thanks Chris...was looking all last night for a guide and just found this today....i hope to get my light working using your i nstructions tomorrow....thanks in advance as im sure given everyone elses response that it will work. :):)

Pete
December 2013

Chris - Thank you so much - you're a star!
Just fixed mine following your excellent instructions to the letter, even down to using a very small allen key to thread the cord. It worked perfectly first time.
Thanks again.

Jean
October 2013

Thank you Chris, I have spend a happy morning following your clear instructions reconstructing the baffling array of springs, widgets and doodahs back into a working light switch. Thank you so much.

David
July 2013

Thanks Chris, Yet another satisfied customer. Would not have be able to put the gubbins back together without instuctions. Now its fixed and working within 5 minutes at no cost for new parts or the expense of an electician. If what goes around comes around you are due some real good luck!

Sue
July 2013

Thank you Chris! Since my husband died I've had to learn to do these kind of things myself, and people like you make that possible. Even though they're only simple things it gives me such a sense of achievement when I manage to do them. Thank you!! :)

PS - Whoever said that diamonds are a girl's best friend had never heard of Google....

Anne
April 2013

Chris - You're a legend. You should write instruction manuals or 'How to' guides for a living ;-) Add my name to the list of people your post back in 2008 has really helped! Many thanks! :-D

Steve
April 2013

Chris - you are a superstar! Your instructions were clear and having electrocuted myself once already, I was able to fix the issue within 5 minutes of reading your guide.

Memo to self - never let the missus attempt to do this on her own, not knowing what she has taken from where when she hasn't turned the power off properly.

You saved my life!

Dan
March 2013

Chris, genius instructions that have saved me loads of wasted time. Now my jobbies are in the right order and the light is back on! Thanks for taking the time to post. Cheers, Mark

Mark
March 2013

Thank you.... just followed the instructions above and it worked fine...

DF
March 2013

Thank you Chris 2008 - you have just illuminated my bathroom again.

My pull cord SNAPPED above the plastic cord joiner, so I took the fitting apart only for it to explode under the spring pressure.

I had actually worked out how it went back together as it is a simple cam-follower mechanism. My problem was that the metal jobby would not stay attached to the large plastic jobby. On closer inspection I could see a perfect circle etched in the copper so deduced I was missing something. Thanks to your post I realised it was the large spring. Which I eventually found.

I do have one tip though:

When it come to threading the cord through the small hole in the small plastic jobby, the best and quickest method is to get a small length of cotton.

Make a few loops around the end of the cord and pull tight, thread the 2 ends of the cotton through the small plastic jobby and pull.

The cotton grips and compresses the cord and it pulls right through without issue.

======================================================

QUOTE: Chris 2008

ve just done mine - if yours is anything like it you'll have the following bits:

2 x spring (one thin about 2mm diameter, the other about 5 or 6 mm diameter)
2 x plastic jobbies
1 x metal jobby

The metal bit will fit onto the larger of the plastic jobbies. There should be gaps so that when you slide the metal jobby onto the plastic jobby you'll have some metal sitting almost flush with the 'lip' of the plastic. That's the bit that makes the connection between the wires and gives you light.

Now, here comes the tricky bit. Make sure you've threaded the cord through the housing (easy) and then through the smaller spring (not so easy, but if you twist as you push it helps). Then drop the larger spring over that, so both springs are sitting in the bottom of the housing.

Now add the larger plastic jobby with the attached metal bit. The metal bit should be on the bottom. The plastic jobby has teeth on it, around the outside. These should have the pointy bits facing upward (ie, away from the housing).

Now you need to add the smaller plastic jobby. This is the one that causes all the trouble, as you have to thread the cord through a really narrow opening. Spit & twist on the end of the cord only frayed it, for me. The tool that really saved the day for me was an Allen key, the smallest I had - just line up the cord and push it through. It'll take several pushes, but you should be able to get enough through that you can pull from the other side. Then, tie a knot in it to prevent it slipping back through.

Make sure that the teeth on the smaller plastic jobby are facing downwards, or toward the housing - so that they match up with the teeth on the larger plastic jobby. I had to rethread that thing at least 3 times, working that one out...

Now, in order to reassemble it, pull the string down and wrap it around your finger or hand - you want to make sure the mechanism is retracted inside the housing for fitting. I had to do this as I don't have a clue which breaker controls the lights. And I'm too good-looking to die of electric shock. But anyway, it also makes assembling it easier. Then just screw the black box with the nasty wires onto the housing, and the housing back into the ceiling, and Bob is your mother's brother - working pull-cord light switch.

So, to sum up, the assembly looks like this:

Cord knot
Small plastic jobby, teeth V
Large plastic jobby, teeth ^
Metal jobby, with raised bits in line with large plastic jobby
Large spring
Small spring
Housing

Good luck..!

Chris
July 2008

escribblings
March 2013

Thank u so much Chris July 2008..... I am one of those weird people who hate not being able to fix things... i would sit for hours playing around with something rather than replace it lol... ur instructions were fab!!! i got it right first attempt so i only had to thread it once!!!! Dont think i would have ever got it myself as i had the springs at either end of the plastice jobbys lol xxx THANKS AGAIN...

Jenni
December 2012

ross you are a star thanks very much

raymondo
November 2012

I have fitted mine back as instructed but the light won't turn on now, could I have done something wrong :-(

Dawn
September 2012

Thankyou Chris July 2008 - this answer worked for us after much deliberation before we looked on the internet.

Red Robbo
January 2012

Replace it with a new one, much cheaper than calling an electricion. Cost around £3'50, keep the wires to the same places. SWITCH OFF THE POWER FIRST!.

john Eyles
January 2012

me too got to get the wife happy again or i am in big trouble

andy
December 2011

i'm in the dark with this one

maureen
December 2011

What a great help this was. I had exactly that problem, followed the instructions and bingo! Job Done. I worked in the opposite direction as I first tied the knot then threaded the bits on in the reverse order that suggested. That move kept all the bits in order on the string until it came time to put the gubbins into the plastic holder. A little tension and it was no bother getting them all together without the need for a third hand.

Dougie
May 2011

Hi Chris,

Thanks for your answer. My switch is also fixed. However I it took me ages to recover from a laughing fit after reading your fix (and some of the replies).

You're in the wrong job. you should be a comedy script writer.

It was worth the broken switch just to read your description of the fix.

By the way selotope stops the cord from fraying.

Thanks

Eric

Eric
March 2011

HI Iwan,

the answers start at the bottom of the page.

Eric

Eric
March 2011

you say thanks chris but where is his answear

iwan
December 2010

Chris - You're a legend and I now have a happy wife once again. I doubt it will last but I'll make the most of it in the meantime. Cheers for the simple instructions.

General Urko
December 2010

People - I followed your instructions and an now a proud owner of a working bathroom light!! It was the contact points bit where I kept going wrong, but all done.

Thanks very much for the help!

elli
October 2010

Thx Chris!! you're my superhero, british electric appliances are the villains.

Carlo London
October 2010

Trying to repair a broken pull cord bathroom light is a nightmare! Having spent nigh on four hours trying to figure out how to put this darned thing back together, I finally gave up and went to the store and bought a new fitting for less than a fiver.
Trouble was, when I had taken the unit apart to fit the new cord, I had not noted where the wiring from the circuit should go into the unit!
After several attemps and precariously standing on a wobbly old chair trying to fix it all, I did what I should have done in the beginning - I called a qualified electrician and he did it in no time at all.

When my Dad was around he was a very seasoned and clever DIYer, but he told me two things you should never mess with and leave to the professionals are gas and electricity. I think he was right.

James Stirling
October 2010

thanks the whole thing had come to bits inside and the cord had snapped inside it worked a treat saved me byin one

neil
May 2010

Perfect instructions Ross, followed them and eventually got it to work. Small addition to the instructions, before threading the chord, burn the end with a match or lighter, makes it easier to thread and you will have to do it more than once. Also, before putting it all back together, undo the wires from the black thingy, should only be two, black and a red. Then you can re-assemble the switch at ground level. This way u can check it clicks when u pull the cable. Then re-connect the wires and housing.

martyn nash
May 2010

Searched all night for instructions on how to do this, then this morning I found this site. Thanks so much for the advice, replacing is just not an option for me, I replaced it a few months ago and the celing crumbled away when I did so, resulting in a lot of filler and no nails now holding it up, lol.

Thanks again Cherie

Cherie
April 2010

Just wanted to add a big thank you! Like so many before me when the cord broke in my hand with the break inside the switch I merrily unscrewed the casing only to find it all leaping apart under the force of the freed springs in the casing...
Without the guidance below I never would have got all the various bits back in the right order...
p.s. Chris - just love the description of the pieces - small plastic jobby and large plastic jobby is right up my street!!!
Thanks all! :-)

Margaret
February 2010

Thanks Chris and Gregory

I was struggling to reassemble the so-an-so but your

Rog
February 2010

Thank you Chris - very useful instructions!

Andy
February 2010

My son managed to pull the cord out completely so I followed Chris's directions to put it back in.

The same thing happened to me, everything fell out of the housing leaving me with a fun puzzle to sort out. I gave up trying to fix this after an hour of trial and error and two toddlers begging for attention. So thanks to Gregory and Chris and your clear instructions (having done all the hard work for me) all is working now.

I guess if there is something actually broken or missing inside the spring mechanism then you will need to replace it but you will then need to rewire the plug.

Hopefully it will be as simple as rethreading the cord and screwing it back on like it was for me.
Thanks guys!

Ruth
January 2010

I just wanted to say thank you so much, Bob, Gregory and Chris. I was nearly in tears trying to do this at a bizarre angle in my bathroom- even though i did it once before - effortlessly. This time everything fell out and I just couldn't figure it out. Taken me 2 hours till I thought i'd see if anyone could help. I love you all!!

Sarah
July 2009

The 2 answers below this one seem fine, so read them first.

A point to add for clarification, when you add the metal plate to the larger plastic piece, ensure that the contact spots are able to make contact with the contact spots on the rectangle block.

You can do this by holding the whole assembly together and checking this... like a trial run without the screws in.

I ended up putting the whole thing back together and even back in the bathroom before I realised I put the metal plate on wrong... yes, I had to re-thread and all.

All works fine now, and yes, it took me half an hour in total while watching the news, I felt going to B&Q was cheating.

Point of safety, ensure you switch the power off for the ring you are working on from the consumer unit.

Good luck.

BobK
March 2009

Turn the breaker off!
Unscrew the bottom of the housing.
Unscrew the rectangular "wiring housing"? from the round bottom housing you just undid
Now, re-thread your cord as follows:
Up through the round bottom housing
Through both springs (smaller inside larger)
Insure the large plastic piece has the copper contactor on the right way i.e. it slips over the downward facing cylindrical non-tooth side with the contact buttons facing UPWARD. The locating pins will help you. The contact buttons are offset at the ends and so will be stepped upwards with the little tits facing the ceiling when installed correctly.
Thread cord through small plastic piece with angled teeth pointing down and cord knot will pull back into deeper well side. Flat ends of "gear" facing up into rectangular housing with the wires on it, angled ends of "gear" meshed with larger plastic piece.
Pull assembly together with the cord making sure the copper contacts stay aligned in the cutouts and wrap securely around your finger to maintain tension.
Whilst maintaining tension, slide bottom housing into rectangular "wire retainer"? and attach two screws. I found it easier to pre-install the screws and hold it together with my free hand, let go the cord and tighten the screws.
Attach bottom housing to baseplate attached to ceiling or wall.
Turn breaker on and ops check.

Gregory
November 2008

I followed the instructions below and it worked for me!

Ross
August 2008

I've just done mine - if yours is anything like it you'll have the following bits:

2 x spring (one thin about 2mm diameter, the other about 5 or 6 mm diameter)
2 x plastic jobbies
1 x metal jobby

The metal bit will fit onto the larger of the plastic jobbies. There should be gaps so that when you slide the metal jobby onto the plastic jobby you'll have some metal sitting almost flush with the 'lip' of the plastic. That's the bit that makes the connection between the wires and gives you light.

Now, here comes the tricky bit. Make sure you've threaded the cord through the housing (easy) and then through the smaller spring (not so easy, but if you twist as you push it helps). Then drop the larger spring over that, so both springs are sitting in the bottom of the housing.

Now add the larger plastic jobby with the attached metal bit. The metal bit should be on the bottom. The plastic jobby has teeth on it, around the outside. These should have the pointy bits facing upward (ie, away from the housing).

Now you need to add the smaller plastic jobby. This is the one that causes all the trouble, as you have to thread the cord through a really narrow opening. Spit & twist on the end of the cord only frayed it, for me. The tool that really saved the day for me was an Allen key, the smallest I had - just line up the cord and push it through. It'll take several pushes, but you should be able to get enough through that you can pull from the other side. Then, tie a knot in it to prevent it slipping back through.

Make sure that the teeth on the smaller plastic jobby are facing downwards, or toward the housing - so that they match up with the teeth on the larger plastic jobby. I had to rethread that thing at least 3 times, working that one out...

Now, in order to reassemble it, pull the string down and wrap it around your finger or hand - you want to make sure the mechanism is retracted inside the housing for fitting. I had to do this as I don't have a clue which breaker controls the lights. And I'm too good-looking to die of electric shock. But anyway, it also makes assembling it easier. Then just screw the black box with the nasty wires onto the housing, and the housing back into the ceiling, and Bob is your mother's brother - working pull-cord light switch.

So, to sum up, the assembly looks like this:

Cord knot
Small plastic jobby, teeth V
Large plastic jobby, teeth ^
Metal jobby, with raised bits in line with large plastic jobby
Large spring
Small spring
Housing

Good luck..!

Chris
July 2008

ur right what a nightmare the bits fell out on me 2 and not because i was heavy handed, any way i fixted mine, 1.the string freds through the small bit with 4 groves and is tied with the flat bit being the bottom. 2. the bigger plastic bit is placed on top of the small plastic bit. 3. the metal peice is then put on the bigger plastic bit, it now all fits in nicely. 4. the small spring is put on. 5 the big spring is put on. then close and put screws back and it now works. hope this helps u.

marc
August 2007

The answer is to replace the whole unit, if you unscrew the cover, after turning the power off, you will expose the guts, they will not fall out, they did because they were broken by some heavy handed mis-abuse, now all you have to do is unscrew the base from the ceiling and disconnect the cables, connect them to your newly purchased switch in exactly the same places from whence they came and fix back to aformentioned ceiling, the number and position of cables, depends on the type and design of the circuit.

bob
March 2006

None of these are answers and yes it is easy enough to BUY a new cord but even if you BUY a new one you still have to fit it so for the Smaries who "answered" you were no help.....

Bathroom Queen
February 2006

you will need a new pull switch, it cost about £1.50 from most D.I.Y. store.

neville
January 2006

u cant best to buy new one can get one for under a fiver so not worth the hassle with old one

tony
December 2005