Grid Dip Oscillator, fixing a dirty pot.

In this video I show how you can use WD-40 to fix a dirty potentiometer, but note that the beneficial results improve with time.

Grid Dip Oscillator, fixing a dirty pot.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Grid Dip Oscillator
• GDO
• dip metre
• test equipment
• ham radio
• fixing a dirty pot
• WD-40
• wd40
• gw0jxm
• g0jxm
• Andy Davies
• AllAmericanFiveRadio
• all American five radio
• all American 5 radio

[radiofun232]

I once read in an electronics magazine from the '50's or '60s that you could put some (very fine) pulvered graphite from a pencil into it, to "repair" the worn out carbon surface from the potentiometer (turn it a few times after this measure). I think perhaps the resistance can change too much, but for non-critical circuits this could help too (or open the potentiometer and "fill" the worn out carbon layer by moving a pencil over it).

[AndyDaviesByTheSea]

@radiofun232

Hi there’ I’m sure that you are right, a bit of graphite would work wonders. I came from that make-do-and-mend time when you tried to fix things rather than rush out and buy a new one when the washing machine squeaked or the car’s ignition stuttered. Although I have to admit that in this software-driven-surface-mounte­d-new-fangled-time we live in it is getting to the point where there really are ‘no user serviceable components’ to have a go at.

Kind Regards ... Andy

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Hey Andy,

I think that the wait, allows the medium that the carbon run is on, to swell back to its original size. It is important not to over do the WD-40. A very small amount of WD-40 and a little patience, has fixed a number of items for me. I am listening to the original test radio, right now, that I use WD-40 on over 15 years ago. And it still works like new.

Regards

Rick

[AndyDaviesByTheSea]

@AllAmericanFiveRadio

All copied and understood Rick, I tried to control the shot and that’s what the little test shot in the tissue was for, but then I just couldn’t resist giving it just a tad more. Even after all these years I can still mess with things till I bust them again hi hi. Don’t know if you saw my sig geny repair video but I got to use the WD-40 and the feather.

73’s ... Andy

[khoham]

It's a wonder it's called wd40 it stands for the 40th attempt of the inventors water displacement formula. It was originally made with fish oil..

[AndyDaviesByTheSea]

@khoham I don’t know what’s in it but it works well for me. As I mention in the video my blacksmith friend reckons that when his hands ache from hard labour there’s nothing better for him than to soak his hands with the stuff and rub it into the joints and his not a lad I’d want to argue with.

Kind regards ... Andy

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

@AndyDaviesByTheSea

I did see the video, very nice idea. The right tool for the right job. I would have thought about using a feather. I tend to think about buying something first.

73's

Rick

[AndyDaviesByTheSea]

@khoham Thanks for that, yep, it was there and it looks like something else to get interested in, can I have some more hours in the day please?

Kind regards ... Andy

[khoham]

Have you seen the online article for a dip meter based off a lambda diode? just put lambda diode into your favorite search engine and it'll be in the first page of results