Rusted on Fender Deluxe Reverb knobs

[Randall]

Got a DRRI that looks like it's been to hell and back. Has lived next to the FL ocean for most of it's life at a marina I believe. Input jack nuts are green, and pots are so noisy the amp is unusable. 6V6's are way beyond their bedtime. Problem is, 5 of the 9 knobs' setscrews are frozen so tight that I cannot get them free to pull the control panel for cleaning. I have soaked them for 1.5 days in penetrating oil and PB Blaster, and am using my best and biggest screwdriver that will fit, but they will not budge. Also, the screws are rusted so bad, two of them have already stripped the head slots. I hate to resort to destroying them and charging the dude for 5 knobs on top of the $100 I estimated. Anyone have any tricks or insight as to how to get these knobs to come free?

[nosaj]

Stop where your at and talk with the customer and explain the situation is worse than estimated.

Jason

[Jazz P Bass]

I had that issue with a SF Twin master volume pot.
Someone had sprayed 'contact cleaner' in & around the knob, trying to get it into the pot shaft.

Well, many years later the new owner wants the MV pot fixed.
It doesn't turn.(I know of no source for the push pull pot)

Go to take off the knob, loosen the screw &.......
The knob will not budge.
The insert on the knob & the pot shaft where different materials. (the MV was aluminum)
Talk about 'welded' tight.
I had to physically remove the knob & the pot shaft as a unit.

Soaking it in M1 fluid for a day was enough to break it loose.
Worked a 1/4" drill by hand in the knob bushing to remove the crud.
Then I had to remount the shaft to the pot.

And this was only one bad pot.

[drewl]

Definitely call customer tell them about the situation.
Spray again and wait.
Try applying heat with heat gun or hair dryer.
Worst cast drill out the set screws.
If you're cheap like me you can even make new set screws with a larger size screw if necessary, cut a section if a screw and saw a slot at one end, yes.... I've done this.

[Randall]

Nothing worked. Screws slots all broke. I tried heat, nope. Tried drilling one out, just made more of a mess. I ended up having to break them loose. I lost three of five pots in doing so. Once I got the panel out, I saw that all four input jacks are rotten as well. I figure I needed to see exactly what needs to be replaced before calling the customer to guess on what is behind curtain no. 1. Anyway, I know the guy, he will go with it.

[olddawg]

Nothing worked. Screws slots all broke. I tried heat, nope. Tried drilling one out, just made more of a mess. I ended up having to break them loose. I lost three of five pots in doing so. Once I got the panel out, I saw that all four input jacks are rotten as well. I figure I needed to see exactly what needs to be replaced before calling the customer to guess on what is behind curtain no. 1. Anyway, I know the guy, he will go with it.

Since you have it apart, it might be prudent to replace all of the pots, knobs, and jacks. Less headaches in the long run. Also check every ground and make sure the transformer contact to the chassis isn't corroded. I grew up at the beach and have seen corrosion cause some really wierd and time consuming problems. I would really be looking at the tube sockets as well.

[Randall]

Interestingly, inside the chassis looks pretty good. It almost looks like it was subjected to moisture on the outside, like repeated dew, but not the inside.

[g1]

Wow, that's a re-issue, think of how bad a 50yr old original could be!
If nothing else, it's alerted you to possible "extras" that may be required for repairs, specific to your new locale.