[ARC5] Command sets and the dish-washer (or how can I really cleana set?)

[David Stinson]

I Respectfully disagree with dishwashers for any radio.
When I was young, I put a black ARC-5 transmitter in
the dishwasher.  Almost all the paint was destroyed
and big flakes left all over the inside of the washer.
The inside of the dishwasher smelled of some sort of
chemical for a week.  My mom made me scrub it, but
it didn't help.  Within a couple of months, every little 
metal interface in the set began to corrode from the
soup I used.  I've never done it again.

That being said, I'm going to make some of you cring,
because I have washed a great many radios, including
my salt-water contaminated, now working and *not*
corroding ATB transmitter, at the car wash.
I've cleaned several BC-348s, an ATB which is now
in good operation, and ART-13, a couple of BC-669s, 
a BC-659 and an Australian AT-5, all without trouble.
Just go slow, think before you start, consider everything
and protect what needs protecting.

I pull everything that's going to collect water, like the 
ARC-5's IF cans and dynamotor and clean them seperately.
I put the wash thingie on "RINSE" and run all the chemicals out
of the hose.  I almost never pull the high-pressure trigger;
that blast will do damage and peel paint.  If I do, it is
very carefully aimed and very short.  High pressure will 
ripple the thin aluminium of late W.E. 274N receiver covers,
but it will clean the crud off the dynamotor deck without 
damage.  The lower pressure coming out without
 pulling the trigger does fine 90%  of the time.  
Once clean, everything air drys for at least 2-3 days.  
I know.... you'd never.
But it works for me and I don't have to worry about
Kay skinning me for messing-up her dish washer.

73 Dave S.