[Collins] Cleaning off nicotine

[Jim Isbell, W5JAI]

About 18 months ago I got the first of my Collins equipment and the
75S-1 receiver was impregnated with nicotine.  As I walked into the
house with it my wife screamed from another room, "Get that thing out
of the house!"  She hadnt even seen it but its odor preceded it into
the house!!!

I cleaned it off by spraying it with 409 and then hosing it off with a
garden hose and then let it sit in the sun for 6 hours.  It worked and
she allowed me to bring it into the house.  As I sprayed the 409 on it
the brown nicotine flowed off onto the sidewalk in bright brown
streams.  It was horrible.  I sprayed everything, chassis and all.

A couple of weeks ago I bought a 30L-1 that was reported to be heavily
encrusted with nicotine.  The seller was overstating (how is that for
an exception) it as it really wasn't that bad...at least you could not
smell it like I could on the 75S-1.  In the past week I have been
getting ready to put the 30L-1 on that air.  I decided to take a look
at the cap and diode boards before letting them go and was glad I did
as I have now ordered a cap/diode board from W6WJN to replace the
originals even though they did fire up and come up to voltage.  They
were originals so as several of you suggested, I will replace them.

But while I had the cabinet off I decided to clean the nicotine off
it.  I used a product that is far cheaper than 409 and works better. 
It is available at the Dollar Store for $2 in a 40oz jug with a spray
head.  Its called Thunder Blast degreaser.  NOW be aware that I did
not try it on the chassis and circuitry, only on the cabinet.   The
cabinet turned from a dirty gray to a like new Collins gray is seconds
with NO scrubbing, just flowing on and washing off, and looks great.

I am going to leave the circuitry alone as it doesnt smell bad and I
am not sure what effect the Thunder Blast might have on labels etc.
-- 
Jim Isbell
"If you are not living on the edge, well then, 
you are just taking up too much space."
W5JAI
UltraVan #257
CAL - 27   #221