Replacing the Handle Micro Switch

Working with the top assembly …

In this next instalment in our repair guides series we look at the replacement of the micro switch that the brewer uses to determine whether the handle is up (open) or down (and closed). This position is an important safety feature on the Keurig brewers as it ensures the user is protected from the injection of very hot water.

Problem to Solve

So the problem we are attempting to solve here is when a brewer sometimes works when the handle is placed down and sometimes it doesn’t – for all no apparent reason. There is water in the reservoir, the pumps seem to having being working ok and otherwise it works just fine apart from when the handle is placed down.

Parts and Equipment

Parts

The part we are going to replace is a micro switch that sits in the top assembly of the brewer. These switches are quite standard across most Keurigs, but do make sure the one you purchase will fit your model. Your model number can always be found on the underneath on the metal base plate. The photo below shows the one off our B60.

We tend to use Amazon.com and ebay.com for our spare parts purchases and in particular for this purchase ebay.com will be your best source. If you would like to click over to our parts replacement page you will find one already reviewed and it can be purchased from.

Equipment

For the replacement of the micro switch all you will need is:

• Phillips head screw driver.

Steps to Follow

Step 1

Refer to our repair guide Removing the Casing off a Keurig.

Step 2

Now that we have the casing off we can get on with replacing the micro switch. Place the brewer on its back and looking into where the entry needle is you will see two screws securing the top assembly cover to the brewer. We need to remove these.

Step 3

With the cover detached we have to remove the handle and to do this we need remove two screws that secure it to the frame of the brewer. Move the handle to the upright position, while placing a little force down on the cover to stop it rising. There is a screw on each side to take out.

Step 4

With the screws removed the handle and top cover should easily lift off allowing you access to the micro switch.

Step 5

You can see the micro switch that is activated when the handle is lowered and raised. With the problem think the brewer has this activation is now happening consistently and so should be replaced. To remove the switch from the power board it plugs into we need to access this board, which sits on the right side of the machine (as it faces you). You will see a black cover and we need to open this up to get to micro switch’s connecting plug. There are three screws securing the power board board (with the third one on the B60 almost hidden right at the bottom forming part of the protection to the power transformer.

Step 6

With the power board exposed, you can see from the photo where the micro switch plugs in (on our B60 it is the red connector with the black and white wires). We need to disconnect this plug and feed the wires back through so as to free them from the brewer.

With the wire disconnected at both ends one should now be able to pull it all the way through.

Step 7

With the wires free we can now undo the two screws holding the switch in place.

Once the two screws are out we need to feed the wires through the top assembly. You will see the two wires are held in place by a number of clips. The easiest way we found was to start with the sharp bend, removing a wire at a time, and then working towards the backwards towards the boiler unit.

Step 8

Taking the new micro switch you have purchased we are going to just reverse the procedure we have carried out. First, secure the switch into the top assembly housing.

Be careful in feeding the wires back in. In particular with a couple of points as we show in the photo where wires are held in place.

Step 9

Feed the white and black (might be different colors on your Keurig) through to the power board and connect back to the empty connection point.

Step 10

Place the power board cover back on, fitting in the bottom of the cover first is normally the easiest way. And watch out for a few pinch points with the wires as you secure the power board cover back on. In the photos below we show the two problem areas – ensure you don’t crush any wires between the frame and the cover.

Step 11

Place the handle and top cover back onto the top assembly, feeding the cover into the gap almost in a backwards motion. Ensure the handle is in the upright position and reinsert the two screws we took out earlier.

Step 12

Now place the brewer onto its back and reattach the two screws we took out in Step 2.

And that is the final step. Try our your brewer and see if the new switch works. If the fault persists check on the connection with the power board from Step 9. If all that looks find get hold of us in the comments section below and see where we go from here.