How to clean a dirty pot?
Apr 9, 2006 at 8:23 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 32
Denim

Denim

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I have a Yamaha integrated amp since the early eighties. It developed a problem years (decades) ago with the volume knob. I usually listened with the knob always in the same position. Now you get noise at that same position. I've tried tuner shower, but it's only a temporary fix. Is there another technique I can try, short of replacing the pot? I'm assuming it's a pot.
 
Apr 9, 2006 at 8:43 PM Post #2 of 32
It's very likely a pot. You'll need to get inside the amp and spray some contact cleaner inside the pot. Twist profusely (the pot, not your body.) I've used Zerosolve. Be careful that it doesn't drip all over the rest of the unit. Hey, you can slo get some canned air and clean off any dust inside that may help keep heat on stuff.

No guarantees. I've had this work for an extended amount of time, but seemed to come back. I hate it!

Good luck!
 
Apr 9, 2006 at 9:06 PM Post #3 of 32
That is what I have done in the past. The noise always comes back. I looked into replacing the pot several years ago. I may have another try at that. Otherwize, I'll sell it and move on.
 
Apr 9, 2006 at 11:01 PM Post #6 of 32
If you are an uber-cheapass like me, you might try refurb'ing the pot. OK, it wasn't my original plan but when I find a pot acting up, it's gotta be pulled off the board anyway to replace it, so while it's off I pop the thing open, put a little more tension in the wipers, rub on the tracks with a dry paper towel and polish the wiper contacts with a special tool I call "Q-Tip-With-Dried-Brasso-On-It". All kidding aside, dried brasso is good for cleaning some things as it's less abrasive, less messy.

So about 3 minutes later I've finished and try it- usually works pretty good. Some pots are riveted shut though, that's more involved that I'd want to get before giving up on it because I don't have a teeny rivet gun or tiny screws that long.
 
Apr 10, 2006 at 12:11 AM Post #7 of 32
Straight contact cleaner never works for long on cleaning a pot. In addition, I always (I mean ALWAYS) find that the pot never "feels" the same afterwards....

What I've used for the past couple of years is a CAIG product called DeoxIT FaderLube (formerly known as Cailube MCL). An application or two of this stuff as well as moving the knob full cycle does wonders for the sound. No static, noise and the pot remains silky smooth....
tongue.gif
 
Apr 10, 2006 at 12:39 AM Post #8 of 32
Here is a top down view of the pot
volumepic1_edited.jpg


The piece of paper on the back of the pot says "MI00KnY". At first, I thought it was 100K. The pot in on the main vol board
tongue.gif

It has 6 pins soldered to the board (2 X 3).

If I get past the noisy pot problem, I will move to the tuner next. It won't remember the station memory. Possible bad cap. Never could find anyone to identify it.
 
Apr 10, 2006 at 1:15 AM Post #10 of 32
Looks like it should be simple to replace. Just pop off the knob, lift it out, unsolder it, solder in the new one, put on the knob and you are ready to go. If you want to check the resistance of the pot, measure from one side to the other (as opposed to one side to the center).
-g
 
Apr 10, 2006 at 1:28 AM Post #11 of 32
Quote:

Originally Posted by gsteinb88
Looks like it should be simple to replace. Just pop off the knob, lift it out, unsolder it, solder in the new one, put on the knob and you are ready to go. If you want to check the resistance of the pot, measure from one side to the other (as opposed to one side to the center).
-g


I agree that it shouldn't be too hard to do. The board that the pot is mounted on does not have much slack on the ribbon cable, but I can turn it over. I'm hesitant to remove it because I don't know if I can find a replacement. I guess I'll never know until I take it out and measure the resistance.
 
Apr 10, 2006 at 1:30 AM Post #12 of 32
That thing has its back riveted on, so you are going to have on hell of a time cleaning it. Even if you cant find a replacement, there are two options. One, solder that pot back in, and two, get a pot of a close, but different value. You will be able to find one of close to the same value, if not the exact same.
-g
 
Apr 10, 2006 at 1:43 AM Post #13 of 32
Thanks for the response. I've got a bit of learning to get a close match. My first step is figuring out the size. Is it measured at the solder points, or the width of the component?
 
Apr 10, 2006 at 2:46 AM Post #14 of 32
Quote:

Originally Posted by gsteinb88
That thing has its back riveted on


I don't think so. I think those rivets you're seeing are just for the signal pins. If you pry those four tabs back, the PCB should come away from the pot body, exposing the resistive track.
 
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