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General Asylum General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories. |
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General Asylum General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories. |
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In Reply to: how do u clean switches on 70s receiver? posted by Robo on June 9, 2000 at 21:29:36:
Since i'm not directly familiar with using the Rat Shack stuff, here's some basic guidelines on cleaning switches or potentiometers.(1) Since some cleaners "eat" plastic, remove any plastic knobs or trim that may be exposed to overspray. Try to protect or shield areas that you might accidently hit with overspray.
(2) Place a nasty old towel or garbage can under the device to be cleaned. You'll end up with a mess, but this will minimize it by catching the run-off.
(3) Start off with a NON-LUBRICATING cleaner if at all possible. Spray the switch or pot with several short & quick blasts. Tuck the "straw" just inside the control.
(4) work the control back and forth several times rapidly, making sure to hit and rest in each detent if there are any.
(5) spray a steady stream of cleaner into the control while working the control through all of the positions. If you can't do both at the same time, spray then rotate and then spray until it streams out.
(6) If you have a different cleaner with a MILD lubricant, apply it after waiting a bit. This let's the other cleaner drain out and penetrate the really crusty junk that still might be in there. Keep in mind that you might get some type of chemical reaction between the two different cleaners that might not be good for your equipment. It's typically wise to use solvents from the same company as their formulations are probably relatively similar and / or highly compatible. Many of them offer 2 or 3 step cleaner / lubricator type chemicals for this very purpose.
(7) Once you've applied the lubricated cleaner, work the control until it operates smoothly. You might have to give it another quick blast.
(8) Wipe down any / all excess or overspray as best as possible.
(9) Make sure that the cleaners are capable of being used with power applied to the unit. This simply means that the solvent is basically non-conductive and it won't short anything out if you have overspray on the circuit board and plug it in. If it doesn't specifically make mention of this on the label, wipe everything down again and then let the unit sit for a day or two before plugging it in. It's better to be safe than sorry.
The bottom line is that most people DO NOT flush the controls out thoroughly enough. This is why they get noisy again in a very short period of time. You simply loosened the dirt up and it slowly found it's way back home onto the contacts a while later. You have to loosen the grunge, flush the grunge out completely and then treat the surface from future corrosion or pitting. If you don't do all of this right the first time, you'll soon be right back where you started and get the opportunity to practice cleaning pots and swithces again : )
There are a few things that you should NOT do:
DO NOT try cleaning ANY electrical device with power still applied to it. You may kill or give yourself the shock of a lifetime. Some devices ( amps especially ) can store a LARGE amount of power even after being turned off for quite some time. Quite plainly, it can knock you on your ass or possibly even stop your heart. BE VERY CAREFUL. At the very minimum, unplug the device and turn it on for a while. This "SHOULD" drain most of the stored energy to the point that it is safe to open it up. If the unit is hooked into the system, unplug it while it is operating. Make sure that the volume is WAY down when doing this or select another source when possible. If in doubt, use a screwdriver to bridge across the power plug of the unit in question. This will short out any stored energy that may still be lingering. Be prepared for an arc if there's anything left.
DO NOT use WD-40, Windex, carb cleaner or some other type of lubricant or cleaner to clean your unit. If you do, your repair bill just went MUCH higher ( IF it can be repaired ). You wouldn't believe the stuff that i get to see.
DO NOT use ANY type of cleaner / lubricant / "shower" that leaves a thick foamy film or residue behind. This includes some MAJOR brand names that are supposed to work great. Regardless of what the label, salesperson, manufacturer told you, they are all JUNK. I will GUARANTEE that the residue gets crusty over time and will make things worse than when you started. If it's not a relatively clear liquid, DON'T USE IT !!!
Hope this helps some of you folks out. Sean
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Follow Ups
- Cleaning switches, pot's, controls, etc.. - Sean 23:27:32 06/09/00 (0)
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