I recently purchased a used Iwatsu SS-5705 (my first) and it seems to
function correctly on all 3 channels. I have noticed that when I turn
some of the knobs it behaves like there are dirty or loose contacts.
What is the best way to go about cleaning/checking the guts of the
machine? Is it just a matter of using a contact cleaner or should I be
on the look out for cracked/cold solder joints?

Also does anyone know where you can hunt down manuals for these older
units? The company itself still exists and makes scopes but they don't
go as far back as this unit in the on-line library.

wrote in message
ups.com...
I recently purchased a used Iwatsu SS-5705 (my first) and it seems to
function correctly on all 3 channels. I have noticed that when I turn
some of the knobs it behaves like there are dirty or loose contacts.
What is the best way to go about cleaning/checking the guts of the
machine? Is it just a matter of using a contact cleaner or should I be
on the look out for cracked/cold solder joints?


I'm not famiar with that make/model. However I bought a very nice Philips
scope on eBay, non-working, which had seriously scratchy/intermittant knobs
and switches. I found a good dose of Servisol lubricating switch cleaner did
the trick. When I say a good dose, I mean just that! I had to flood the
switches and operate them repeatedly to break down the layer of filth/oxide
from the contacts, but after a few applications it worked like new.

It's important to use 'lubricating' switch cleaner, anything else may
shorten the life of the contacts and give only temporary relief from the
symptoms.
Some equipment's switches are very hard to access, which might make this a
difficult repair, but if you can easily get the tube from the aerosol in,
it's straightforward enough and usually very effective.

Dave

Dave D wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...

I recently purchased a used Iwatsu SS-5705 (my first) and it seems to
function correctly on all 3 channels. I have noticed that when I turn
some of the knobs it behaves like there are dirty or loose contacts.
What is the best way to go about cleaning/checking the guts of the
machine? Is it just a matter of using a contact cleaner or should I be
on the look out for cracked/cold solder joints?



I'm not famiar with that make/model. However I bought a very nice Philips
scope on eBay, non-working, which had seriously scratchy/intermittant knobs
and switches. I found a good dose of Servisol lubricating switch cleaner did
the trick. When I say a good dose, I mean just that! I had to flood the
switches and operate them repeatedly to break down the layer of filth/oxide
from the contacts, but after a few applications it worked like new.

It's important to use 'lubricating' switch cleaner, anything else may
shorten the life of the contacts and give only temporary relief from the
symptoms.
Some equipment's switches are very hard to access, which might make this a
difficult repair, but if you can easily get the tube from the aerosol in,
it's straightforward enough and usually very effective.

Dave



Wouldn't that coat the entire inside of the scope with dust-attracting
lubricant?
I would first clean all the switches, controls, selectors, etc. with
NON-Lubricating cleaner, operate them all several times, then after
they're all operating better, spray a SMALL amount of switch lubricant
on/in them

"Jumpster Jiver" wrote in message
news:_GU_e.5842$j_3.109@trndny07...

Wouldn't that coat the entire inside of the scope with dust-attracting
lubricant?

Naturally, if one isn't careful! I'm not sure about the 'dust attracting
lubricant' though- I find Servisol does't have that effect, the lubicant is
very fine. If it wasn't, it would have the same effect on the switches.

I would first clean all the switches, controls, selectors, etc. with
NON-Lubricating cleaner, operate them all several times, then after
they're all operating better, spray a SMALL amount of switch lubricant
on/in them

I had the switches in question facing down, so the cleaner drained out.
Obviously it has to be done with care, the object isn't to just dump it all
over the scope indiscriminately.

The scope had already been subject to repair attempts, which had failed, and
it had been auctioned on eBay as a fixer-upper. A few minutes of spraying
and working the switches gave a complete cure. With the thin tube supplied
with the aerosol, it is possible to be very accurate and spray almost all
the fluid through the switches, with very little local contamination.

There's no reason your way of using non lubricating switch cleaner initially
wouldn't work, but if one has to go out and buy switch cleaner, there's
little point in buying two lots for one job.

Dave

Dave D wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...
I recently purchased a used Iwatsu SS-5705 (my first) and it seems to
function correctly on all 3 channels. I have noticed that when I turn
some of the knobs it behaves like there are dirty or loose contacts.
What is the best way to go about cleaning/checking the guts of the
machine? Is it just a matter of using a contact cleaner or should I be
on the look out for cracked/cold solder joints?


I'm not famiar with that make/model. However I bought a very nice Philips
scope on eBay, non-working, which had seriously scratchy/intermittant knobs
and switches. I found a good dose of Servisol lubricating switch cleaner did
the trick. When I say a good dose, I mean just that! I had to flood the
switches and operate them repeatedly to break down the layer of filth/oxide
from the contacts, but after a few applications it worked like new.

It's important to use 'lubricating' switch cleaner, anything else may
shorten the life of the contacts and give only temporary relief from the
symptoms.
Some equipment's switches are very hard to access, which might make this a
difficult repair, but if you can easily get the tube from the aerosol in,
it's straightforward enough and usually very effective.

Dave

Thanks, I will take a look and give it a try.

wrote in message
ups.com...
I recently purchased a used Iwatsu SS-5705 (my first) and it seems to
function correctly on all 3 channels. I have noticed that when I turn
some of the knobs it behaves like there are dirty or loose contacts.
What is the best way to go about cleaning/checking the guts of the
machine? Is it just a matter of using a contact cleaner or should I be
on the look out for cracked/cold solder joints?

Also does anyone know where you can hunt down manuals for these older
units? The company itself still exists and makes scopes but they don't
go as far back as this unit in the on-line library.


I have a 5710 manual , don't know if similar
email address on URL below

--
Diverse Devices, Southampton, England
electronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list on
http://home.graffiti.net/diverse:graffiti.net/