Repair Off-hook Button on ShoreTel Phone IP230

If you have a ShoreTel phone that does not always come off-hook when you lift the handset, it is likely that the contacts on the internal sliding switch have become corroded or bent and are no longer making good contact.  If you are not afraid of rolling up your sleeves and playing with electronics and your phone is out of warranty, then you have nothing to lose.  Follow these steps to fix your phone.  (Note: I am not a ShoreTel Technician.  I am an end-user whom learned the following from coworkers and from my own experience.  If you decide to perform the following procedure do so at your own risk to yourself, your phone, and your warranty..)
Here is what you will need:
- A phillips screwdriver
- A small needle nose pliers
- A small piece of extra fine sandpaper
- A paper clip

The first time you do this it will likely take about an hour, however after a little practice this can be completed in about 20 minutes.




Picture 1

1) First prepare the phone by unplugging all network cables from the back of the phone, disconnect the handset from the base, and remove the phone's stand. 
2) Next, flip the phone face down and remove the 7 screws that hold the back on the phone (See Picture 1). Once the back is loose, fold it open and set it adjacent to the front of the phone, ensuring that the wires have a little slack and do not get pulled tight.


Picture 2

3) Locate the Off-hook button's circuit board and remove the two screws holding it in place (See Picture 2).

Picture 3

4) With the Off-hook board loose, find the slider switch and using a small needle nose pliers bend the back side of the switch up 90 degrees (See Picture 3). 

Picture 4

5) Next rotate the switch assembly upside down so when you remove the spring and the contacts they do not fall out (See Picture 4).  Once the switch is positioned in this way remove the spring and then push the black button from the opposite side to slowly remove the contacts.  (Note: The metal contacts sit loose in the black button thus be careful that these do not unintentionally fall out while disassembling the switch.)


Picture 5




6)  You should now have two loose metal contacts, take a piece of very fine sandpaper and slide it between the contacts to remove the corrosion, it won't take much sanding (See Picture 5).  Additionally if you have a little electronic contact cleaner apply it to the contacts.

Picture 6

7) (Note: This is the most difficult part and the point at which I believe you are most likely to accidentally damage your phone.  Take your time with this step.)  Next put the contacts back in the black button and align them with the metal rails inside the switch assembly.  Once they are aligned I use a paperclip to gently open the contacts so they can slide onto the metal rails.  This takes a gentle balance of opening the contacts while applying just a little pressure to slide the assembly together (See Picture 6). 





8)  Now insert the spring and bend the back side of the switch assembly closed.  As  you bend this closed be sure the spring does not wiggle out of place, there is a little notch that the spring should sit on. 

9)  With the switch assembly back together, reassemble the phone by screwing the off-hook circuit board back to the phone, put the back on the phone and tighten the 7 screws, connect the base, connect the handset, and finally connect the network cables.

I hope that these instructions help you protect your investment in your ShoreTel phones.  I have only performed this procedure on ShoreTel UP230 phones, however I assume similar procedure would work on the following:

ShoreTel IP Phone 565g
ShoreTel IP Phone 560g
ShoreTel IP Phone 560
ShoreTel IP Phone 530
ShoreTel IP Phone 265
ShoreTel IP Phone 230g
ShoreTel IP Phone 230
ShoreTel IP Phone 212k
ShoreTel IP Phone 115
ShoreTel IP Phone 110