Scratchy Volume Control

[scdevon]

He's using the WD-40 VERY sparingly. It will be fine. What's CORROSIVE is leaving the pot exposed to oxygen with nothing on it to protect it which is why it's scratchy in the first place!

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

@scdevon

The material that the carbon run is on has shrunk. WD-40 puts the oils back into that material causing it to restore to its original size.

[bellanr56]

Use Deoxit which is a mild cleaner and lube.

[bellanr56]

never use wd 40 on pots, it is corrosive, use a contact cleaning fluid and lube.

[coondogtheman1234]

I did this with this tri-flow pin point lubricator pen on a CD alarm clock radio and it worked great so I tried it on my Laptop which has an analog main volume control on the front and again worked great. before the left side would cut out and if you turn the control just right both sides work. now that I did this everything works.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

@coondogtheman1234

I hope your Holidays were good and this new year even better.

Thanks.

[coondogtheman1234]

@AllAmericanFiveRadio

Yup they were, Hope you had a great new years.

[dealio82]

BUT i have success with the WD-40 pen

[dealio82]

that volume control has no back cover while now the modern volume pot has backcoverso it will be hard to dab PLEASE HELP

[AndyDaviesByTheSea]

Hi Rick

Looks pretty convincing to me. I've never looked closely at a scratchy track to see if it dirt or missing carbon but whatever it is it looks like the WD-40 fixes it and your ten year trial suggests that it’s a lasting fix.

Thanks again.

Kind Regards ... Andy

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks AndyDaviesByTheSea

[X2YeZCAMCNC]

I see so many vintage stereo units that the owner has sprayed every pot with WD-40...good way to ruin a good thing...use contact cleaner only

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

My WD-40 TEN YEAR Experiment

[ringbolt9]

good tip thanks a lot

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

You are welcome. Just us a very very little amount. Thanks.

[denshisan]

The repair of the radio

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks.

[Froggy19510]

Just wondering why you don't use Deoxit? I have used it for years and find it works great. I think better and faster than WD-40 plus it leaves no residue and doesn't rust.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

That is just one thing I use WD-40 for. I also use it to lubricate variable capacitors and many other items and it makes a good cutting oil also. The first radio I used WD-40 on the volume is still working great and that was fifteen years ago and I use it almost everyday. If you like to use Deoxit, use it.

[Froggy19510]

Whoa! Cool down champ! I wasn't trying to insult your mother, I was merely telling you what I use. I also have used WD-40 for years and found Deoxit to be a superior product (it leaves no residue and is non-conducting). I still like your videos though.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

I'm not mad or upset in anyway. My emails tend to read that way when that was not the intent at all. At work I would call first before writing an email.

[Lockemeister]

I put one drop maybe 2 drops on the scratchy treble control in my 262 where the soldering pins are. and then let it soak in from capillary action over a few days. To my amazement, that was all it needed and all scatchiness was gone when I tried the control.. Being patient and waiting for the stuff to work was the thing. Stuff is flammable though per the cans instructions. Spraying is not a good idea.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

I can't remember the last time I spared anything with WD-40, except my garage door. I spray the WD-40 into a small bottle and when I need some, I put some in the cap of the bottle and dispense it using a small jewelers screwdriver. The spray is way to strong, you cannot control where it goes and it always gets on stuff I don't want it to get on.

[Froggy19510]

No problem. I will be watching for more of your videos because you take the time to explain things and you are very informative and interesting. I am trying to learn all I can about vintage restoration as I have several old tube radios I want to get going and put through our house.:)

[RedPortiaOne]

Very nice how to :) I used to spray greaseless tuner fluid on my scratchy volume controls. WD40 is a great alternative and Im gonna try this

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

You only need to use a drop.

[hrf3420]

Nice how-to! If you don't feel like taking the thing apart, I found that just simply exercising the potentiometer (volume control) alot will do the job. Just unhook the battery and move it from max volume to off repetitively about a hundred times or so..

[Ronbob59]

Nice demo Rick. Always a pleasure to watch you work...

Ron

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks Ron,

Im looking forward to learning how to build an airplane. And I guess you are going to be the test pilot also? What an interesting thing to do. When I was living in Seattle I watched people jump off a mountain top from my balcony. They would hang-glide to the valley below, it was always fascinating.

Rick

[joernone]

Rick,

"Don't over do it is good advice."

One fellow on the Antique Radio Forum told about how he once sprayed one of his on/off/volume switches with WD-40. Guess he just showered down on it. Anyway, when he turned the radio back on the switch caught fire. It was a funny story, and no one was harmed, but it could have been the other way around.

Good demo vid.

Regards,

John

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Hey John,

These old electronic can start on fire by them selfs. So I see no reason to help it along. Also if he would have waited a half hour it probable would have been OK. If you use more then a drop, that is too much.

[Pirate88179]

Excellent tip, thank you.

Bill

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks Bill,

I hope this video helps.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Terrific!! And thanks!!

[Druidemporor]

i like how you show whats going on inside

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks. It took me awhile to find a radio that had the problem and also one that would video well.

[JimmerSD]

WD40 is okay for low potential and low RF applications. The trick as you pointed out is to use it sparingly. Oh and modern plastics don't stand up to the petroleum very well.

All too often in the old days I would come across a tuner drenched in the stuff. Im still partial to silicone based lubes. Oh and there are times where the wiper has sat on the carbon so long that it actually develops an open spot and you have no choice but to replace the control.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Exactly, if that small amount does not work, you need a new control.

[carousel19]

I have been using wd-40 since the days of the old mechanical tv tuners that would act up in similar manner.Great on volume controls. Now my secret is out. lol Thanks for refreshing my memory.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Lol thanks. Used properly it does work great.

[togst]

This is definitively something I have to try. Have a couple of 1970s radios which have that annoying noise in the volume control.

Thanks!

-Frank

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Hey Frank,

Remember to use a very small amount and then wait a half hour or so. It is important not to over do it.

[coondogtheman1234]

I thought WD-40 would mess things up b/c its petroleum based, so this does work, so can u use it on modern stuff instead of rubbing alcohol? if this works on everything ill try it on my vintage raleigh transistor radio for the volume control its hard to turn. AA5R would you recommend that i try this in my radio or no?

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

I would not say that it works on everything. But it works well in this circumstance and you saw how much I used, a drop or less. I used a small jewelers screwdriver to distribute the WD-40 evenly. Alcohol does a nice job of cleaning but it dries stuff out too.

[coondogtheman1234]

so would you recommend me try this on my raleigh radio? the volume control is very hard to turn and someone on here said that i can use WD40 for that but i wasnt sure if the wd40 would ruin it.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Sure, that is why I made the video. But is very important not to over do it and that is not just for WD-40, that is for all cleaners and lubricants.

[coondogtheman1234]

ok thank you for the info ill do that when i fix my radio.

[DrCassette]

I'm using a spray called "Tuner600" made by Kontaktchemie (that's a German company). It's develloped especially for potentiometers and switches. It works as perfect as your WD-40 (wich is available in Germany too)

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks. It is always a good idea to do your own testing to see what really works. And I never believe a salesman. I believe in keeping things simple. I'm still use the first radio I tried this on and that is almost fifteen years ago. BTW I think I may have found a source for that Blaupunkt, thanks again for your ideas.