Best way to clean pots

[curtisr]

Newbie here...

Just acquired a mid '80s Yamaha VX65D guitar amplifier and the pots are a bit scratchy and am wondering what might be the best medicine. Can I clean these or is it best to replace them?



Appreciate all help here.

Roger

[Chuck H]

The first thing to do is determine if the pots are scratchy because they are dirty or because there is DC voltage on them. But if you're going to clean them anyway...

Blow them out with compressed or forced air, spray a little pot cleaner into the opening and rotate back and forth a few times. Use generous paper towels around the work to prevent over splash/spray from getting on anything. Let the amp rest for a while to evaporate solvents in the cleaner before operating. Don't use contact cleaner, that is for jacks, plugs, tube sockets, etc. It has no lubricant and will strip out any that is already in the pot. This can cause gritty/scrapey feeling operation and premature wear.

[xtian]

+1

Specifically, DeOxIt F5 spray.

[curtisr]

The first thing to do is determine if the pots are scratchy because they are dirty or because there is DC voltage on them. But if you're going to clean them anyway...

Blow them out with compressed or forced air, spray a little pot cleaner into the opening and rotate back and forth a few times. Use generous paper towels around the work to prevent over splash/spray from getting on anything. Let the amp rest for a while to evaporate solvents in the cleaner before operating. Don't use contact cleaner, that is for jacks, plugs, tube sockets, etc. It has no lubricant and will strip out any that is already in the pot. This can cause gritty/scrapey feeling operation and premature wear.

Thank you so much. I've got a compressor and canned air And I didn't know that that there was a difference between pot cleaner and contact cleaner. Now to find some!

[curtisr]

+1

Specifically, DeOxIt F5 spray.

That just made it easy! Much appreciated.