switch cleaner

[Paul Drawmer]

This is the control panel from an elderly subwoofer.
The two pots on the left have stopped working correctly, with added noise and becoming microphonic.


I'm hoping a clean with some switch cleaner will fix it. Do I just give them a liberal spray with aerosol straw aimed in the cracks?
Should I manipulaate the controls at the same time?

[JoshSm]

It appears that opinions vary on what to use and how to use it. Some of these things apparently need a lubricant as well as a cleaner.

Wiggling it around a bit feels like the best way to do it but I guess it depends on how much access the cleaner has?

Could just be the pots are knackered so allow for them to not improve or to get much worse if you fiddle with them!

[GMuk]

I have found a good spray with through the access slot with contact cleaner and moving the pot multiple times across the full range works well. After that you can use Caig Faderlube to keep them working well though it is pretty pricey.

[98elise]

Yes manipulate them at the same time. Contact cleaner is just Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) so you don't need to buy anything that claims to be a specialist contact cleaner.

[Ed Boon II]

Used this for many, many years -

Servisol Super 10 https://amzn.eu/d/0cnc7Kjh

[shtu]

The Servisol stuff is good, and was the go-to choice long before Youtube made other things popular. I don't use it much, but my own can must be 20+ years old.

Used it just the other day to fix a wonky selector on an exercise bike. Little squirt in and move the control through it's full range a few times, job done.

(You will of course get people recommending whatever they use.)

[Paul Drawmer]

Thanks folks.
Switch cleaner aerosol arriving tomorrow! No, I'm not using any of these, which I have already: WD40, PTFE Dry lube, lithium grease, graphite dry lube.

[Paul Drawmer]

Small panic when all reassembled. NO sound at all. Then I realised my new amp has software control of the sub, and I'd turned it off!
REL Quake. I found a manufactured date inside for 2002. I bought it used, about 15 years ago. Lovely thing.