[Drake] Cleaning Equipment

[Garey Barrell]

Richard Holder wrote:

> 
> The transmitter front is relatively clean but the receiver and 
> associated units hae been used by a heavy smoker. There is a 
> considerable difference in color bwteen the front of the receiver and 
> the transmitter. Also the FS-4 shows considerable smode residue on it. 
> What would the best cleaner be? I have used 'Fantastik' with good 
> results on other equipment but how would that affect the plastic on the 
> front of the FS-4.
> 
> I think it might be a good move to clean all the wafer switches in the 
> RX and FS-4 as it has been used in a smoky environment and has been 
> stored for some years without being used at all. Any suggestions would 
> be appreciated.
> 

Dick -

The best cleaner I have found so far for nicotine residue is 
GoJo Hand Cleaner.   The plain white style, NOT the one with 
pumice!!  I have used it on a LOT of different equipment 
with various materials, including plastic meter faces, with 
no problem, SO FAR.   It seems to be pretty benign 
chemically, but really cuts through nicotine and (strangely 
enough) hand or finger grease left around knobs.

Easy to remove the knobs and front panel for cleaning. 
Don't lose the small black fiber washers behind each of the 
four corner screws that hold the front panel.

Switches should be treated with DeoxiT D100L in the needle 
applicator bottle rather than sprayed indiscriminately with 
D5 or other spray formulations.  A drop on two or three of 
the stationary tags will clean everything with a few 
rotations of the switch.  The black silver oxide isn't 
particularly pretty, but has little or no effect on switch 
conductivity.  Also important to put a small blob of lithium 
grease on the ball or detent mechanism of rotary switches. 
Seeing more and more worn out detents from lack of lube.

Slide switches also respond to a drop or two of D100L.

Pots are made like new with Caig CaiLube.  A shot in the 
opening cleans and leaves enough lube to make them smooth 
and noisefree.

DO NOT grease the nylon gears of the dial mechanism.  They 
are intended to operate "dry".

73, Garey - K4OAH
Atlanta