[Hallicrafters] Tuner Cleaner (Radio ShacK)

[Mark Johnson]

I have to agree with Bill. I would not panic over using the Radio Shack 
tuner cleaner, nor would I go to any lengths to remove any residual traces. 
I use two types of switch cleaner in my work on old gear. Non lubricated and 
lubricated such as the RS tuner cleaner. It is my experience that the 
lubricated stuff has a place in doing repair work. I've had examples of 
switches, such as multi section band switches, that clean up very nicely 
with high potency cleaner and then actually start to bind. With some 
Heathkit gear, the bind is such that the knobs actually can't hold and the 
set screws strip the threads in the knob. I then use a bit of lubricating 
cleaner and it then frees up the switch so that its action is smoother. As 
for wafer swelling, I've never experienced it. I will caution that the 
residue from lubricating cleaner can attract and hold dirt but I suspect 
that, that will not become a problem for at least another 50 years.....

Mark V. Johnson VE3DJU/VE3DDI
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Gerhold" <k2wh at optonline.net>
To: "'Clayton L. Nicolsen'" <cnicolsen at msn.com>; 
<Hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, November 20, 2005 10:28 AM
Subject: RE: [Hallicrafters] Tuner Cleaner (Radio ShacK)


>I have to put my .02c in on this.  Wafer swelling was debated a while back
> on this site.  Except for the poster who said wafer swelling was a 
> problem,
> all other respondents, to the man, disagreed.
>
> After performing restoration on many receivers and transmitters with the
> phenolic wafer switches, I have never had this problem even when soaking 
> the
> wafer switch.  Of course caution should be observed when cleaning these
> wafer switches, but I think the wafer swelling may not be entirely 
> accurate.
> I am not saying it cannot or never happened, but I think the incidents of 
> it
> happening may be very scarce.
>
> K2WH
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: hallicrafters-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:hallicrafters-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Clayton L.
> Nicolsen
> Sent: Sunday, November 20, 2005 9:10 AM
> To: Hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: re:[Hallicrafters] Tuner Cleaner (Radio ShacK)
>
> One other important point about using spray tuner cleaners...
>
> As you already mentioned, spraying it liberally on wafer switches,
> especially old ones, can be a problem as it can frequently cause the 
> wafers
> to swell and the switch won't work properly.  As a previous thread stated,
> use some alcohol to remove some of the solution from the wafer.
>
> However, a bigger issue is the tuning capacitors.  Never, never spray any
> kind of contact cleaner that leaves a residue on tuning capacitor fins.
> This will change the dielectric constant of the capacitor and dramatically
> change the alignment of the radio.  You also will need to clean the tuner
> residue from the capacitor fins.  The alcohol will work, or you can use 
> any
> commercial spray cleaner.  Keep it out of the shaft bearings.
>
>
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