Ed, generally i change the roll pins once or twice before the whole switch need replacing due to the wear you suggested. Training (which is the answer) these drivers is proving very difficult. I was just hoping that someone somewhere had found another stronger unit as a direct replacement. Because of the crank in the lever and the small roll pin these lever need careful use. A slightly different design could completely eliminate this problem.

hello guys
why not experience the placement of springs. one solution is to use leverage with spring in the middle so that cushions the blow of the artists of driving. the other is to put springs and limiters. or use rubber blocks

Training the operators is the -only- real answer, since there is no way that little roll pin can withstand an operators ham handed ramming of the switches lever.
I have also noticed that operators that were never trained not to jump out of the seat have a tendency to hit this lever with their knees as they egress the machine while facing away form the machine, which also causes/exacerbates this problem.
Maybe you can ask to speak to the operator it happened to to see what he was doing just before the failure, and show him the problem/ instruct him as to the proper method of changing directions.
Do you change the entire assembly or just the roll pin, since wear on the related parts may be a part of the problem?

I do normally as well, but in this particular case the drivers are breaking so many, the customer wants something done about it. I have suggested driver training, but it fell on deaf ears.

i have had this problem aswell but only with one or two customers. I just put down to driver damage.