On Tuesday, November 22, 2016 at 4:39:35 PM UTC-5, Cursitor Doom wrote:
has anyone got any tips as to how to deal with these? Some of the pots
and rotary switches I come across seem (at first sight at any rate) to be
fully encased and consequently very difficult (and some) to get any
lubricant into. I reckon there must be some old trick or knack I'm not
familiar with. Is there any alternative to removing them outright and
soaking them or drilling tiny holes in the casings to squirt lube in
through?

I have this wonderful little device made from a bit of brass tubing, a threaded fitting soldered onto it and a small piston that seals with O-rings - almost like a very primitive syringe.

How it works: The threaded fitting has a small O-ring inside and is threaded onto the switch or pot until it seals. Lubricant is introduced and the piston inserted. By activating the piston, the lubricant is then forced around the shaft into the guts of the pot or switch.

Works like a charm. The tube is a few inches long to accommodate different shaft lengths, but one does not have to fill the thing. The piston (if made correctly) seals the tube so that the lubricant is directed into the pot. The pot just needs to face UP.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA