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  • A question about pots and "contact cleaner".

    Hey all!
    I hope to get a few enlightened answers on this, because I've gotten very conflicting messages about it from other places:

    1. My Marshall 8100 has crackling pots, and I am planning on fixing this.

    2. Some people suggested I use a spray called "contact cleaner" and spray it into the pots. I've gotten this advice on several occations, from different people.

    3. Other people have screamed: "STOP!!! No spray in the pots! You'll only make it worse!"

    The people in paragraph "3" made the following arguments:

    "Crackle in a pot is caused by wear. The graphite track is getting worn, and the slider (which is connected to the knob), doesn't get proper contact with the graphite.
    If you spray contact cleaner into the pot (God forbid!), the spray will eat away at the graphite track, worsening the damage to it. The spray also dissolves fat residues, which in turn binds loose graphite particles. The result is a graphite sludge which may end up in the entirely wrong place and produce "micro shorts" that cause erratic operation of the component.
    This "contact cleaner" spray is only for switches or sockets where the contact points have gotten oxidized or burnt.
    What you CAN do as a temporary fix, is to turn the amp off, and then rapidly turn each knob between min and max a number of times. This may clear the problem for a while.
    The only permanent fix is to replace the pot."


    I must say that the "paragraph 3" arguments sound pretty convincing. What are your experiences with contact cleaner in amps and/or guitars? Help!

  • #2
    http://store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.188/.f
    It works.

    The comment about contact cleaner only being for switches and sockets is flat out false.
    The problem is most people ONLY use the cleaner. You have to lubricate the pot after you clean it or it will wear out even faster.

    Use this to lubricate the pot.
    http://store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.293/.f
    -Rick

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    • #3
      I cleaned a pot on my stereo about 10 years ago and it has worked without issue ever since. You have to take internet advice with some degree of skepticism and use it as a starting point.

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by rjohnstone View Post
        http://store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.188/.f
        It works.

        The comment about contact cleaner only being for switches and sockets is flat out false.
        The problem is most people ONLY use the cleaner. You have to lubricate the pot after you clean it or it will wear out even faster.

        Use this to lubricate the pot.
        http://store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.293/.f
        That is great! Thanks a lot!

        Comment


        • #5
          "PRF 7-78 kontakt" cleaner also lubricates. You only need little amount of that stuff.

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          • #6
            The Tuner cleaner the TV repairpeople used to carry also cleans and lubricates.
            My hair is on fire!!!!!My hair is on fire!!!!!!
            Marshall 2205, 6100, 6100LM, JMP-1, EL84 20/20, VHT 2/50/2, Marshall 1960A & B cabs, '79 Strat, '84 Pacer, '98 Wolfgang, '08 Charvel San Dimas x 3.

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            • #7
              Another vote for the Caig products. Been using them for years and have NEVER had a later problem.
              "You are so stupid that I am surprised you have not collapsed into a singularity of stupidity." - Anon

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