Vintage receiver grime cake!!

[Garret86]

Let’s start this off by saying I’m very new to HI-FI and vintage audio being a younger guy. So I have had a vintage ROTEL receiver come into my possession that is filthy. I’m talking like the inside is filled with an inch of dirt and dust and the circuit boards are coated in what appears to be a sticky yellowish goo. After blowing out the dust I’m left with this film of sticky crud coating all the inside electrical components, that turns into a sludge paste when I tried ISO and a Q top on it. How can I flush and clean all this out without turning it into a bigger mess and not totally destroying the thing as it does work about 50% of the time currently. (Will post pics later)

 

[swechsler]

Sounds like cigarette tar combined with dust. This thread might be helpful.

 

[Garret86]

Sounds like cigarette tar combined with dust. This thread might be helpful.

Thank you I was overwhelmed and didn’t even know where to start when I opened it up, can iso hurt anything inside a receiver ?

 

[swechsler]

In general, no, but it could remove stamped labels from some components, which might be useful later if you need to replace something. It can also dissolve adhesives holding on paper labels. I'd hold off doing anything else until others respond.

 

[Garret86]

In general, no, but it could remove stamped labels from some components, which might be useful later if you need to replace something. It can also dissolve adhesives holding on paper labels. I'd hold off doing anything else until others respond.

Yea seems smart , there’s just so much material stuck inside it makes me think it would need some sort of flush

 

[David_NC]

I've used a small (1" or so) cheapo 'chip' paintbrush to clean really nasty boards. I generally use alcohol to clean off grime like you describe. I use the brush dry to dislodge as much of it as possible. Then, I turn the component on end and use compressed air in a can to blow out as much as possible. Sometimes brushing while blowing helps. Next, I dip the brush about 1/4" into the alcohol and work it around on the board to remove the grime. I typically use two small dishes to do this; one is to wet the brush for cleaning, and the other is to rinse the crud off before dipping into the alcohol used for cleaning. Use clean alcohol when the clean one gets dirty, and wash the brush with soap and water when it's too dirty. Dry the brush on a towel and use it to sop up the sludge, if needed. Once it's clean, I go over it all with the rinsed brush and alcohol to get off any remaining dirt and then blow it again. I avoid blowing the alcohol into things like transformers, trim pots, etc but do just enough to get standing liquid from crevices. Let it dry very well before using, obviously. This has worked well for me, though it's possible something other than alcohol would be better.

 

[trainbuftony]

Nicotine tar is terrible to have to clean up, but in my experience it does tend to create a useful barrier against moisture, and the associated corrosion. Tar coated stereos tend to be less exposed to oxidation and the effects of time due to the oily coating.
Water has a harder time creeping in.
Try and look at the positive in an absolutely disgusting situation.

 

[Lavane]

Nicotine tar is terrible to have to clean up, but in my experience it does tend to create a useful barrier against moisture, and the associated corrosion. Tar coated stereos tend to be less exposed to oxidation and the effects of time due to the oily coating.
Water has a harder time creeping in.
Try and look at the positive in an absolutely disgusting situation.

When I was doing computer repair I kept a box of latex gloves for working on computers owned by smokers. Some were pretty bad inside.

 

[El Rubio]

I also use chip brushes, but cut the bristles short to make them stiffer. I brush things out dry, then follow with alcohol or CRC. I have a couple of artist paint brushes and q-tips for various amounts of crud.

 

[Ray Gianelli]

I also use chip brushes, but cut the bristles short to make them stiffer. I brush things out dry, then follow with alcohol or CRC. I have a couple of artist paint brushes and q-tips for various amounts of crud.

@Garret86
+1 for trimmed chip brushes. I'd use one of those, and spray it out with a zero residue cleaner. CRC and WD-40 both make one that should be available at any of the big box hardware stores. Probably best to be done outside, between the fumes and the nasty crap that's going to rinse out.