[Boatanchors] How to clean AB pots?

[jeremy-ca]

Ive had excellent results with AB's that have been removed. I use a milling 
bit in my drill press and a light oil to absorb particles. Go just far 
enough to barely pierce the metal. Wipe clean and then use a pick to open 
the hole enough to get the spray nozzle in.

Be sure to test before reinstalling. Using it in series with a speaker lead 
works well with lower values up to 10K or so.

Carl
KM1H



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Garey Barrell" <k4oah at mindspring.com>
To: <Wa4uso at aol.com>
Cc: <Boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, October 06, 2007 11:41 PM
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] How to clean AB pots?


> You need to find (or make) a tool like the one Quietrole used to sell 
> about 50 years ago.  It was a piece of brass tubing with the inside of one 
> end threaded to fit on the bushing of a pot.  The other end had a plunger 
> operated by a knob that forced "pot cleaner" (mostly carbon tetrachloride) 
> around the shaft seal of the pot.  Kind of a syringe with a BIG needle! 
> :-)   A real timesaver for the Radio - TV Repair guys.
>
> You might be able to force-fit a piece of poly tubing over the bushing 
> threads, then fabricate some sort of pressure device, but the A-B pots are 
> pretty well sealed.  Might take a lot of pressure to get anything past the 
> shaft seal.
>
> Else you might be able to punch a small hole in the housing, (not drill, 
> for obvious reasons,) and spray in some CAIG CaiLube/MCL.  If you can get 
> it in there, it will clean and make them feel like new!
>
> 73, Garey - K4OAH
> Glen Allen, VA
>
> Drake 2-B, 4-B & C-Line Service Supplement CDs
> <www.k4oah.com>
>
>
>
> Wa4uso at aol.com wrote:
>> What is the easy way clean AB pots? I have several receivers that use 
>> these pots and removing the front panel, i.e., R-388 or sp-600, is a lot 
>> of work just to clean a noisy audio gain control. Got any tricks. 73 
>> WA4USO Darrell Darby
>>
>>
>>
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