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Using Deoxit?

E

eardrummer

New Member
Sorry for the n00b question, but this is probably so self-evident that a search did not turn up an answer. When using de-oxit on volume, balance, etc. - do I just pull of the knob and spray the stuff onto to the pot or do I have to take the receiver apart? If I don't have to take it apart, how do I clean off the access?

Thanks.
 
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You have to take the unit apart to gain access to the back of the pots. On a potentiometer, there is usually hole in the "12 o clock" position that acts as a stop, as well as a slot where the leads come out and solder to the PC board. That is where you spray at, from the top and let gravity help while turning the controls gently back and forth. Switches have similar access areas, though some are sealed, as are some pots. Some switches such as source selectors are connected via a cable and the switch itself is located elsewhere in the unit, usually towards the rear. Just follow the linkage to find it. Sealed controls can be a pain to clean, and I have carefully disassemble them before and cleaned them, but it requires care and patience. On the other hand, they usually can go longer without problems due to them being sealed.:music: If I missed anything, I am sure others will chime in. Hope this helps.
 
The little spray tube that comes with most contact cleaners, DeoxIT included, is only about 6" long, and this is too short for many cleaning operations.

What I do is take two of these spray tubes, place them end-to-end and couple them together using 2-3 laminations of shrink tubing, each about 1-1/2" long. The 12" spray tube this yields is enormously easier to use, significantly because you can bend the end in a semi-circle to help it spray into tight spaces. When you bend a single tube into a semi-circle, it's usually too short to reach many switches and controls unless you do a full tear-down.

Fred
 
An even n00bier question, where do you get shrink tubing for connecting two Deoxit tubes together?
 
For volume, bass, etc...I'd recommend DeoxIT's FaderLube instead. I had some noise/static problems with my pre-amp. The regular DeoxIT didn't clear it up but the FaderLube did.
Parts Express has a excellent selection of DeoxIT products.
Some Radio Shacks even carry DeoxIT and DeoxIT Gold.
 
Good tip Fred.

Good advice Face. The deoxit for FaderLube is the way to go for those controls. Guitar Center has them locally in the DC/MD/VA area
 
For the sealed pots and switches, I take the smallest drill bit I can find.. usually a little bigget than a pin, and carefully taking my time and just letting the bit do the work, I drill a small hole in the top somewhere to allow me to get a place to spray into the switch or pot.. then when done and dry, I take a little small drop of silicone and cover the hole until needed the next time.
 
I picked up a small bag of assorted heat shrink tubes from the local Radio Shack for $3. Looks like I'll be able to use one or two of them. They also have Deoxit, but it's a pair of the tiny touch-up size bottles for $15. I picked up a pair of the bigger cans online a few weeks ago. Now I just need to work up the nerve to start. It's a pioneer sx 3800, btw.
 
MCM electronics, which is down the street from Parts Express, used to sell the spray can tubing in 3 foot pieces. If they still do you can make any length tube or have several different lengths.
 
Does this sound like a Deoxit case? Here:

The On/Off knob on my Esotec SC-6 keeps goving me an annoying uneven hissssss (not a feedback) when I turn it on, but it goes away after I play with it a couple of times (push on - push off...). I tried unplugging, reversed the power, checked all connects - nut nothing changed.

Any pointers? :tears:
 
Those symptoms sound more like carbon/pitted contacts. They may be able to be burnished to clean them up if the switch can be easliy disassembled.
 
I have a weird problem with my Sansui R-70 not being able to play any of the inputs (phono, AM, FM) on the source selection knob. Aux works, which is one choice (along with source, tape 1, tape 2) on another knob. It this a problem that could be fixed by deoxit or is it probably something bigger?
-Joe
 
sx-3800! Oh you are in for a bit of a pain! I took mine apart and it is very well constructed but much harder to get into the face plate area than my g-5500 or luxman -450. I actually thought I wouldnt be able to get it back together at one point so you need to be really careful. this thing is built differently than others I think and it is hard to get into the switch areas. I did it though and I dont have that much experience. Make sure you put all the screws in a place you wont lose them there are lots of them of diff sizes. It is a bitchen reciever that is for sure.
 
kleibjr, It never hurts to clean the switches and controls. If Aux works but the other postions don't, there's a good chance that cleaning with fix it or at least make it better.

- Pete
 
legaleagel said:
The On/Off knob on my Esotec SC-6 keeps goving me an annoying uneven hissssss (not a feedback) when I turn it on, but it goes away after I play with it a couple of times (push on - push off...). I tried unplugging, reversed the power, checked all connects - nut nothing changed.

Any pointers? :tears:
Click to expand...

You need to replace the switch element itself; the contact points are pitted beyond what any cleaner/lube will fix.
 
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