Cleaning Potentiometers and Variable Capacitors 

Thank you and appreciate your effort. Greetings to you from Turkey .

Hi, Roger! We missed you! I still have my mini oscilloscope with your mods! Also the little function generator. Both complete in their clear acrylic cases. I actually got my mods to fit in the cases. Thanks for those videos and this one!

Really great info. Thanks!

Thank you for this video!

Thank you very helpful!

Brilliant. Thank you.

I use Kontakt PR, but may get interested in Tuner 600. I'd like to test Argentum fluid for silver-plated components (switches etc.) if I get a chance.

VERY GOOD INFO

The basic question about any spray or fluid is whether it takes any contaminants with it when it vaporizes. Mostly not. Just think why distillation works for separating for example alcohol and water. In the cleaning attempt, the original dirt rarely evaporates along with the solvent. Your test with the paper also shows, even without original dirt spot, how something was left as a ring. I would really favor washing - ultrasonic or whatever - than depend on vaporizing. If I have to depend on the spray cleaners, I would apply so much, that the cleaner and dirt can be shaken away together, rather than hope that the dirt miraculously evaporates as well.

Many many thanks! I wonder why acetone wouldn't be a good cleaner for the worn potentiometer in the D-Jetronic throttle "switch". Yes, I did think of bending the arm a llttle. Regards from South Australia

Air variables can be boiled in water to clean them without damage. soaking in diesel fuel or kerosenee also works well for loosensing grease and grime.

I use lighter Fluid and a small paintbrush for Potentiometers in my tube radios,i never hat Problems in the past 10 years.

Sometimes you get AM. FM. transistor radios that have the plastic shell make a lot of scratchy noise while tuning. One video made a note of interest to me, was that the noise was caused from the tuner shaft and its contact. I always thought it was the insulation between the plates. So rather than drench the entire tuner with contact cleaner, just use the cleaner with an eye dropper on the shaft.

If I have it out I find using the drill press and a 1/8 drill bit so I can spray it. Then cover the hole with small piece of metal furnace tape.

Great tip - testing the cleaning fluid on paper before using it! What kind of a spatula set is the one being used here? Where can one find it?

Thank you very much for this video! I am from India, a Bio-Medical Engineer by profession & a radio & vintage audio & tape recorder hobbyist. I want to know the reconditioning process for the compact film type ganged capacitors. Please let me know through your video in case you have done any work particularly on these components. Regards!

Wir haben in unserer Radio&Fernseh Rep Werkstatt fuer Kontakte und Potis immer Feuerzeug Benzin benutzt (1974), mein Meister wollte von Kontakt Sprays nichts wissen.

I thought they were variable resistors?

I have to replace a small 50k metal trimmer on a 1973 receiver, these 4 trimmers only have two legs and I don't see anything like them on the whole internet..all it says on them is 50K..what to do?

Very interesting video. Thanks for uploading it. Do you think that cleaning the pot with some 99% IPA and lubricating it with white lithium grease would work? Or would it mess with the resistance?

Those Spooky , large , "OUT of The Earth"- ... , Cosmic, ... , ... variable Capacitors ,... ... ... m ... aren't' they Magical ... ??? 😃😃😃😃😃😃 Time TRAVEL, ... .... 50 years .... back in time .

Can you still buy replacement potentiometers?

Why not bend the 4 tabs and remove the cover completely and then clean it?

Thank you for the great video! I posted a comment about 4 weeks ago however I believe it is pending your approval? Would you be able to please approve it so it can be made visible to all. Thank you

Have you tried W40 spray for repairing carbon layer in potentiometers?

If the carbon is worn away on a potentiometer, I would just replace it if possible.

dont ever use a ultrasonic cleaner,it will literally destroy the plastic variable capacitor