Is it worth taking a 1984 gm radio apart to clean volume tuning knobs? read.905.ew

[21trumpets]

I've taken apart portable radios and cleaned the slide controls for
volume and tone. I'm tempted to try it on a car radio. I've got one in
a 1985 Pontiac that works when it wants to. I'd like to keep the same
radio as it matches the trim on the dash. I heard that putting rubbing
alcohol on a matchbook striking strip and using that like sand paper
can clean the coil resistors pretty good. But I have no idea on the
mechanics of the volume and station tuning dash pots, until I take
them apart.
Anyone tried this before?

[Paul in Houston TX]

Post by 21trumpets
I've taken apart portable radios and cleaned the slide controls for
volume and tone. I'm tempted to try it on a car radio. I've got one in
a 1985 Pontiac that works when it wants to. I'd like to keep the same
radio as it matches the trim on the dash. I heard that putting rubbing
alcohol on a matchbook striking strip and using that like sand paper
can clean the coil resistors pretty good. But I have no idea on the
mechanics of the volume and station tuning dash pots, until I take
them apart.
Anyone tried this before?

They can be cleaned, sort of.
But not with a water base substance.
Since you cannot get into the pot without
nearly destroying it, just spray lighter fluid into
the pot itself and move the control back and forth.
Odds are the carbon strip has worn away and a new pot is needed.

The only coil resistor (pot) that I know of may be the
one for the dash dimmer.
They disappeared when solid state pulsed
dimming circuits became universal about 1990.

I don't remember the tuning control in that radio anymore.
Ny 1992 GM was using a pot to change to voltage of an
LC oscillator but I don't know when they started that.

[PeterD]

Post by 21trumpets
I heard that putting rubbing
alcohol on a matchbook striking strip and using that like sand paper
can clean the coil resistors pretty good.

Do NOT do that with your radio! You'll ruin it. They make spray cleaner
for controls, available from electronics suppliers. However, if the
control is really bad, even cleaning it may not be successful: the
resistance element is thin, and could easily be worn completely away.

[21trumpets]

Post by PeterD

Post by 21trumpets
I heard that putting rubbing
alcohol on a matchbook striking strip and using that like sand paper
can clean the coil resistors pretty good.

Do NOT do that with your radio! You'll ruin it. They make spray cleaner
for controls, available from electronics suppliers. However, if the
control is really bad, even cleaning it may not be successful: the
resistance element is thin, and could easily be worn completely away.
--
I'm never going to grow up.

Thanks, I try the spray cleaner method.

[bob urz]

Post by 21trumpets
I've taken apart portable radios and cleaned the slide controls for
volume and tone. I'm tempted to try it on a car radio. I've got one in
a 1985 Pontiac that works when it wants to. I'd like to keep the same
radio as it matches the trim on the dash. I heard that putting rubbing
alcohol on a matchbook striking strip and using that like sand paper
can clean the coil resistors pretty good. But I have no idea on the
mechanics of the volume and station tuning dash pots, until I take
them apart.
Anyone tried this before?

Don't use anything but a proper cleaner or it will soon be just the way
it was or permanently ruined.

The best cleaner/preservative is made by Caig laboratory. Its called
ProGold. IT will run you 15/20 bucks for a small can


spray it into the pot openings with the radio apart, then work the
control back and forth for a minute or so.


bob