Encoder woes

[nosaj]

My brother gave me a JVC-B99 radio he bought years agp. The vol and subwoofer vol are encoders. When an encoder gets touchy what options are there before replacing it?
added link as pdf is 21 megs

Thanks,
nosaj

[The Dude]

Have you tried cleaning it?

[nosaj]

Of course not, wasn't sure if I could since I've never popped one open. Same as a pot as far as cleaning?

nosaj

[The Dude]

Basically, yes. Just use Deoxit or similar and rotate.

[nosaj]

Hope it works as I really don't want to crack it open. I remember when he got it in 2000 thought it was kool cause it had a guitar input on the back.
nosaj

[Greg Robinson]

There's two common types of rotary encoder: mechanical with switch contacts - these can be cleaned with deoxit or similar much like a pot, or optical - which need to be cleared of debris, spraying anything will typically worsen things. Pressurised air or disassembly and cleaning out fluff and pet hair with a cotton tip is often possible.
Plus, replacements are available just like pots. Check datasheets for type/footprint/number-of-(or absence of)-detents/etc.

[Chuck H]

I don't deal with enconders at all really. But as a matter of course I always use a blast of pressurized air to clear debris before anything else when it comes to pot service. I've done it a couple of different ways (I won't bother you with that). But do blast some air through the mechanical device itself to clear debris before any other product application. JM2C

[Mars Amp Repair]

Also sometimes you can slightly bend the folded tabs holding the encoder together in order to get the Deox in them.
Sometimes you get lucky and there is a slight opening there already.
AND, sometimes the encoder is actually a pot with detents that give it the impression of being an encoder.
Either way, unless it's broken inside, they tend to clean up well.
Trying to match up an ev
encoder to replace is quite the challenge, as there are a number of facets that need to all match up from the number of detents, pin connections and pulses to each detent, to the shaft length and type of shaft to whether or not is is a panel mount or pcb mount or both. It can take hours searching.
SO, if you can clean them, more power to you!
I've had a high percentage of luck.
GOOD LUCK!