A novice's questions about scratchy volume controls
 

Is there any point in trying to repair them, or is
it best to replace scratchy pots? If cleaning
them is a workable solution, how is this best
accomplished? What is the best cleaner to use?
Which would you avoid? TIA!

~db~®

A novice's questions about scratchy volume controls
 

~db~® wrote in message
...
Is there any point in trying to repair them, or is
it best to replace scratchy pots? If cleaning
them is a workable solution, how is this best
accomplished? What is the best cleaner to use?
Which would you avoid? TIA!

~db~®

Scratchy normally means worn , if a standard pot (usually isn't) then
replace.
If not standard, then dismantle an "recondition", details on one of my tips
files off URL below.
Squirting anything is usually pointless .

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

A novice's questions about scratchy volume controls
 

~db~® wrote in
:

Is there any point in trying to repair them, or is
it best to replace scratchy pots? If cleaning
them is a workable solution, how is this best
accomplished? What is the best cleaner to use?
Which would you avoid? TIA!

Depends on what's causing the "scratchy" behavior.

It can be as simple as a speck of dust on the resistive element, so each
time the wiper goes over it, there's an abrupt change in resistance. In
that case, you can sometimes cure the problem by turning the knob back and
forth many times to sweep the speck of dust off the element (or grind it
down to dust).

Another case is a very cheap resistive element which has a rough surface.
Replace it. A proper resistive element, after extensive use, may develop a
rough surface. Replace it.

Of course, if the volume control is specialized, you might have a hard time
finding a replacement. An internet store such as http://www.partstore.com/
might be helpful.

A novice's questions about scratchy volume controls
 

On Mar 19, 10:57 am, ~db~® wrote:
Is there any point in trying to repair them, or is
it best to replace scratchy pots? If cleaning
them is a workable solution, how is this best
accomplished? What is the best cleaner to use?
Which would you avoid? TIA!

~db~®

Can you get at the part of the volume control that has three
terminals, or only from the front of the radio/tv set/whatever/ It is
almost impossible to do anything from the front. If you can get to
the back of the control where the three terminals are located, you can
spray tuner lubricant into the control throught the spaces where the
terminals go into the control. I have also sprayed naptha into
controls. After spraying, with the device UNPLUGGED, rotate the
control back and forth several times. Then allow the lubricant to
dry, at least 15 minutes, maybe more, and then use the device. The
lubricant will help loosen dirt that may be on the track, It may not
help, but it should not make things any worse. I have also sprayed a
little WD-40 when nothing else was available, it helpd noticeably.

H. R. (Bob) Hofmann

A novice's questions about scratchy volume controls
 

In article , ~db~® wrote:
Is there any point in trying to repair them, or is
it best to replace scratchy pots? If cleaning
them is a workable solution, how is this best
accomplished? What is the best cleaner to use?
Which would you avoid? TIA!

If I tried replacing every switch or volume control I came across,
I would spend most of my time doing that. Alcohol
is probably most common cleaner and works well. A
lubricant after cleaning often helps or is necessary.
There are not many lubricants made for volume controls.
CRC 2-26 is not a bad product. I used a product once that was
made in the 60's, was a white grease spray for controls.
The pure red form of deoxit wold probably be very good, and
there is a blue lubricant from Caig made especially for controls.

greg

A novice's questions about scratchy volume controls
 

"hr(bob) " wrote in
oups.com:

I have also sprayed a
little WD-40 when nothing else was available, it helpd noticeably.


Yikes!

A novice's questions about scratchy volume controls
 

"GregS" wrote in message
...
In article , ~db~®
wrote:
Is there any point in trying to repair them, or is
it best to replace scratchy pots? If cleaning
them is a workable solution, how is this best
accomplished? What is the best cleaner to use?
Which would you avoid? TIA!

If I tried replacing every switch or volume control I came across,
I would spend most of my time doing that. Alcohol
is probably most common cleaner and works well. A
lubricant after cleaning often helps or is necessary.
There are not many lubricants made for volume controls.
CRC 2-26 is not a bad product. I used a product once that was
made in the 60's, was a white grease spray for controls.
The pure red form of deoxit wold probably be very good, and
there is a blue lubricant from Caig made especially for controls.

greg

I have used Servisol Super 10 aerosol switch cleaner / lubricant for many
years, and the genuinely dirty pot that this excellent product cannot
recover, is rare indeed. As others have said though, mechanical wear on the
track is a different matter, and control replacement is usually the only
long-term solution.

Arfa

A novice's questions about scratchy volume controls
 

On 19 Mar 2007 11:51:51 -0700, "hr(bob) "
wrote:

On Mar 19, 10:57 am, ~db~® wrote:
Is there any point in trying to repair them, or is
it best to replace scratchy pots? If cleaning
them is a workable solution, how is this best
accomplished? What is the best cleaner to use?
Which would you avoid? TIA!

~db~®

Can you get at the part of the volume control that has three
terminals, or only from the front of the radio/tv set/whatever/ It is
almost impossible to do anything from the front. If you can get to
the back of the control where the three terminals are located, you can
spray tuner lubricant into the control throught the spaces where the
terminals go into the control. I have also sprayed naptha into
controls. After spraying, with the device UNPLUGGED, rotate the
control back and forth several times. Then allow the lubricant to
dry, at least 15 minutes, maybe more, and then use the device. The
lubricant will help loosen dirt that may be on the track, It may not
help, but it should not make things any worse. I have also sprayed a
little WD-40 when nothing else was available, it helpd noticeably.

H. R. (Bob) Hofmann
Go to Radio Shack if you are in the US and buy Deoxit...spray a shot
in the pot and turn it lock to lock about 10-20 times and try it
again...Deoxit Gold is not for pots... see website for details...J.P.

A novice's questions about scratchy volume controls
 

J.P. wrote in
:

On 19 Mar 2007 11:51:51 -0700, "hr(bob) "
wrote:

On Mar 19, 10:57 am, ~db~® wrote:
Is there any point in trying to repair them, or is
it best to replace scratchy pots? If cleaning
them is a workable solution, how is this best
accomplished? What is the best cleaner to use?
Which would you avoid? TIA!

~db~®

Can you get at the part of the volume control that has three
terminals, or only from the front of the radio/tv set/whatever/ It is
almost impossible to do anything from the front. If you can get to
the back of the control where the three terminals are located, you can
spray tuner lubricant into the control throught the spaces where the
terminals go into the control. I have also sprayed naptha into
controls. After spraying, with the device UNPLUGGED, rotate the
control back and forth several times. Then allow the lubricant to
dry, at least 15 minutes, maybe more, and then use the device. The
lubricant will help loosen dirt that may be on the track, It may not
help, but it should not make things any worse. I have also sprayed a
little WD-40 when nothing else was available, it helpd noticeably.

H. R. (Bob) Hofmann
Go to Radio Shack if you are in the US and buy Deoxit...spray a shot
in the pot and turn it lock to lock about 10-20 times and try it
again...Deoxit Gold is not for pots... see website for details...J.P.


wrap a wire or string around the pot's knob and use that to see-saw the pot
lock-to-lock;you can do it much faster and easier.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

A novice's questions about scratchy volume controls
 

lawl mang i ned help fo my projet i alredy posted biout i really ned
to no ;___;

A novice's questions about scratchy volume controls
 

On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 12:57:14 -0400, ~db~®
wrote:

Is there any point in trying to repair them, or
is
it best to replace scratchy pots? If cleaning
them is a workable solution, how is this best
accomplished? What is the best cleaner to use?
Which would you avoid? TIA!

~db~®

Thanks, everyone ... in this case, deoxit did the
trick. And this is a good thing since the volume
control is integral to the on-off switch -- or
vice versa.
~db~®

A novice's questions about scratchy volume controls
 

hr(bob) wrote:
On Mar 19, 10:57 am, ~db~® wrote:
Is there any point in trying to repair them, or is
it best to replace scratchy pots? If cleaning
them is a workable solution, how is this best
accomplished? What is the best cleaner to use?
Which would you avoid? TIA!

~db~®

Can you get at the part of the volume control that has three
terminals, or only from the front of the radio/tv set/whatever/ It is
almost impossible to do anything from the front. If you can get to
the back of the control where the three terminals are located, you can
spray tuner lubricant into the control throught the spaces where the
terminals go into the control. I have also sprayed naptha into
controls. After spraying, with the device UNPLUGGED, rotate the
control back and forth several times. Then allow the lubricant to
dry, at least 15 minutes, maybe more, and then use the device. The
lubricant will help loosen dirt that may be on the track, It may not
help, but it should not make things any worse. I have also sprayed a
little WD-40 when nothing else was available, it helpd noticeably.

H. R. (Bob) Hofmann

If you get DC through any of these things you get a scratchy volume
control. Check for screwed electro.

A novice's questions about scratchy volume controls
 

hr(bob) wrote:
On Mar 19, 10:57 am, ~db~® wrote:
Is there any point in trying to repair them, or is
it best to replace scratchy pots? If cleaning
them is a workable solution, how is this best
accomplished? What is the best cleaner to use?
Which would you avoid? TIA!

~db~®

Can you get at the part of the volume control that has three
terminals, or only from the front of the radio/tv set/whatever/ It is
almost impossible to do anything from the front. If you can get to
the back of the control where the three terminals are located, you can
spray tuner lubricant into the control throught the spaces where the
terminals go into the control. I have also sprayed naptha into
controls. After spraying, with the device UNPLUGGED, rotate the
control back and forth several times. Then allow the lubricant to
dry, at least 15 minutes, maybe more, and then use the device. The
lubricant will help loosen dirt that may be on the track, It may not
help, but it should not make things any worse. I have also sprayed a
little WD-40 when nothing else was available, it helpd noticeably.

H. R. (Bob) Hofmann

If you get DC through any of these things you get a scratchy volume control.
Check for screwed electro.

Another way to clean the pot, but not a long term solution is turn off
the set and turn the pot from end to end lots of times, it moves the
dirt about on the track.