Use STP brake cleaner on noisy radio?

richardmoon · 25th January 2011, 05:22 PM

Hi, I have a roberts R25 radio that is very noisy when moving the tuning dial. I remember reading that to clean it I could spray the part with a cleaner. WD40 would work but apparently would then collect dust. As I have some stp brake cleaner, would this work as a contact cleaner or would it destroy the radio?. I also have some head cleaning solution. Would that work?.

Mooly · 25th January 2011, 06:10 PM

If it's a variable cap with many vanes then it has to be clean but also if/where the centre shaft runs through any bearings then these need to be treated with a little switch cleaner etc... or WD40... but only a pin head sized drop, then move the shaft fully one end to the other and repeat.

I would use a soft brush and vacuum first and then try lubricating the bearings as described... all assuming it's that type of variable cap and not an enclosed one.

tomchr · 25th January 2011, 06:24 PM

Brake cleaner is nasty s**t. If you choose to use it, I'd definitely take the variable cap out of the radio first. Make sure there aren't any plastic parts on the cap before blasting it.

I'd be gentle. As Mooly suggests - maybe all you need is a tiny drop of acid free oil in the right place. Use a syringe and hypodermic needle.

~Tom

richardmoon · 25th January 2011, 08:35 PM

Thanks for the answers. I think i knew brake cleaners was too vicious, but i've got six cans of it to use up!. I'll leave it in the garage where it belongs.
I'll try the gentle approach as above. Thanks again.

barrymagrec · 26th January 2011, 04:34 PM

Back in the 1950`s my dad use to fix noisy volume controls with a small drop of "Redex" (upper cylinder lubricant) but when he got some more 30 years later they had changed the formulation and it no longer worked.

Barry

DF96 · 26th January 2011, 05:34 PM

Why not buy some switch cleaner? This is made for the purpose: cleaning switches and pots.

barrymagrec · 26th January 2011, 05:39 PM

Well yes, but back in the fifties switch cleaner was novel and expensive whereas a shot of Redex was next to nothing from any garage.

LT99 · 26th January 2011, 05:42 PM

Be careful with brake cleaner if it's near a soldering iron or other heat source. I've seen several warnings about brake cleaner nearly killing people after using it to clean metal parts and then welding them. It forms a poison gas from the heat. I don't know if a soldering iron is hot enough to make this happen but look into this matter before using brake cleaner. Better safe than sorry! Brake Cleaner = Phosgene Article

25th January 2011, 05:22 PM	#1
richardmoon diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2009	Use STP brake cleaner on noisy radio? Hi, I have a roberts R25 radio that is very noisy when moving the tuning dial. I remember reading that to clean it I could spray the part with a cleaner. WD40 would work but apparently would then collect dust. As I have some stp brake cleaner, would this work as a contact cleaner or would it destroy the radio?. I also have some head cleaning solution. Would that work?.

25th January 2011, 06:10 PM	#2
Mooly diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2007	If it's a variable cap with many vanes then it has to be clean but also if/where the centre shaft runs through any bearings then these need to be treated with a little switch cleaner etc... or WD40... but only a pin head sized drop, then move the shaft fully one end to the other and repeat. I would use a soft brush and vacuum first and then try lubricating the bearings as described... all assuming it's that type of variable cap and not an enclosed one. __________________ ------------------------------------------------------- *A simulation free zone.* *Design it, build it, test it.*

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25th January 2011, 06:24 PM	#3
tomchr diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Greater Seattle Area	Brake cleaner is nasty s**t. If you choose to use it, I'd definitely take the variable cap out of the radio first. Make sure there aren't any plastic parts on the cap before blasting it. I'd be gentle. As Mooly suggests - maybe all you need is a tiny drop of acid free oil in the right place. Use a syringe and hypodermic needle. ~Tom

25th January 2011, 08:35 PM	#4
richardmoon diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2009	Thanks for the answers. I think i knew brake cleaners was too vicious, but i've got six cans of it to use up!. I'll leave it in the garage where it belongs. I'll try the gentle approach as above. Thanks again.

26th January 2011, 04:34 PM	#5
barrymagrec diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2010	Back in the 1950`s my dad use to fix noisy volume controls with a small drop of "Redex" (upper cylinder lubricant) but when he got some more 30 years later they had changed the formulation and it no longer worked. Barry

26th January 2011, 05:34 PM	#6
DF96 diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2007	Why not buy some switch cleaner? This is made for the purpose: cleaning switches and pots.

26th January 2011, 05:39 PM	#7
barrymagrec diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2010	Well yes, but back in the fifties switch cleaner was novel and expensive whereas a shot of Redex was next to nothing from any garage.

26th January 2011, 05:42 PM	#8
LT99 diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Missouri	Be careful with brake cleaner if it's near a soldering iron or other heat source. I've seen several warnings about brake cleaner nearly killing people after using it to clean metal parts and then welding them. It forms a poison gas from the heat. I don't know if a soldering iron is hot enough to make this happen but look into this matter before using brake cleaner. Better safe than sorry! Brake Cleaner = Phosgene Article

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