How to make potentiometers tight again AFTER cleaning?  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: 001
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2018, 12:04:57 pm
content: I clean and grease pots with WD-40But it rotate now too lightHow to make it tight again?What the Best way to grease potentiometers AFTER cleaning?

author: ElecSeb
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2018, 12:57:11 pm
content: Good question, that is what I am curious about.May be acid-free Vaseline (but still a guess).

author: Calambres
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2018, 12:57:43 pm
content: Quote from: 001 on November 30, 2018, 12:04:57 pmI'm not sure this is a good idea. I use CRC 2-26 for cleaning and lubeing or zero-residue for just cleaning.On the subject of this topic, I can't help but also would like to know!

author: ElecSeb
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2018, 12:58:42 pm
content: For cleaning I use "tuner cleaner" as in other fora WD40 is like a swear word

author: glarsson
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2018, 01:02:44 pm
content: WD-40 is a petroleum based oil in a volatile hydrocarbon. The oil stays behind when the hydrocarbon evaporates. This is not a product suitable for cleaning switches and potentiometers (was not designed to do this job).

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2018, 01:18:10 pm
content: WD 40 is not recommended for cleaning pots by anyone I have ever heard of.It is quite possible that you have damaged your pot(s) beyond recovery.There are specialty lubricants made for electronic use (pots, switches, etc.)They are available in various viscosities from light oil to heavy grease.For example, here are a few electronic-specialty lubricantshttps://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00006LVF1https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00REZMUF2https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B003D8BM7Q

author: stj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2018, 01:23:35 pm
content: you must be really blasting the wd40 in,the "drag" that your after is caused by the grease between the shaft and the threaded section, not the track!short of stripping it right down, your not getting it back how it was - buy new pots - and throw the wd40 into a fire!!in future, spray a small amount of contact-cleaner into the track and work it in - then spray it again and let it drip out onto a tissue - with the crap in it.if you leave it then the lube dries and you simply spread the old gunk around.

author: 001
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2018, 01:28:18 pm
content: Quote from: stj on November 30, 2018, 01:23:35 pmWhat spray do You mean?

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2018, 01:41:00 pm
content: Quote from: 001 on November 30, 2018, 01:28:18 pmThere are specialty cleaners and lubricants made for electronic components.There are brands like Caig De-Oxit, CRC, LPS, Chemtronics, Electrolube, etc. who make cleaners and lubricants safe for electronics.Even WD40 makes specialty products for electronic components.NOT recommended to use general-purpose products as many of them will destroy pots.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2018, 02:56:48 pm
content: Quote from: 001 on November 30, 2018, 12:04:57 pmYou're using too much cleaning solution because it's dissolving the grease on the spindle.AFAIK, the only way to get them back to new after that is to replace the grease which requires a stripdown of the pot and the right grease to be reapplied, you can buy 'slow' grease, it used to be used on eject mechanisms for video recorders and tape decks but I have *no* idea where you'd get it from now.

author: GeoffreyF
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2018, 03:10:28 pm
content: Replace the potentiometer and don't do this again.To clean (if necessary) blow out with an air can. If that does not suffice, use a small amount of contact cleaner.

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2018, 03:31:41 pm
content: Quote from: 001 on November 30, 2018, 01:28:18 pmTuner spray. Most manufacturers of contact cleaners offer a mild variant with cleaner and lubricant for potentiometers and other tunable parts. If you have a crusty pot you might want to use a stronger contact cleaner first and then flush it out with a tuner spray.

author: BurningTantalum
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2018, 07:16:52 am
content: CJay is correct. The grease is silicone-based and comes in different viscosities. It gives that 'quality feel' to pots etc.I used to use it many years ago as a dashpot damping agent in force balance units. It must be still available but I don't know from where.I did receive something very similar in a small bottle when I purchased my 'Arai' racing crash helmet, to lube the visor pivotBT.

author: BurningTantalum
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2018, 07:19:22 am
content: 'Kilopoise' was the name of it (old unit of viscosity) still made by Rocol lubricants.BT

author: Synthtech
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2018, 08:33:36 am
content: The WD part of WD40 stands for ‘water displacer”. Keep that stuff for your tractor.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2018, 08:58:09 am
content: You could try washing out the WD40 with contact cleaner/lubricant, then thin some Kilopoise or similar grease with naptha till its somewhat liquid, warm up the whole pot body and shaft as hot as you dare and use a syrnge to drip the thinned grease into the edge of the sleeve bearing between the bush on the body and the shaft, then work the shaft limit to limit to encourage the grease to wick into the bearing. The heat will drive off the solvent pretty quickly , leaving you with grease where you need it once its cooled.Results are *NOT* guaranteed as it will be a PITA getting enough grease into the bearing without it dripping through and contaminating the track and your previous exercising of a pot wet with WD40 may have damaged the track.

author: Gary350z
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2018, 01:52:13 pm
content: Quote from: 001 on November 30, 2018, 12:04:57 pmMy father sprayed WD40 on his socket tool set to prevent rust. It turned into some kind of hard brown residue that looked like dried up maple pancake syrup. I had to use lacquer thinner to get it off. I hate WD40. I never use it. Plus it smells really bad to me.Question:I bought 4 different brand pots recently. The outside of three of them were completely covered with grease; the case, shaft, and even the fiber board. It was very messy.I have never seen this before.What do they do now, dip the whole pot in grease?

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2018, 02:00:51 pm
content: wd40 is the baddest product to use, its sh$#%%#t, there is many otther product whi can do a better job, gigaloo will destroy some plastics, i use teflon based oils, never dry, never stick, best for slide pots.

author: rfdes
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2018, 02:09:53 pm
content: Hi -The proper material used in the industry is referred to as 'damping grease' and may be procured through several companies. I reached out to a vendor and they sent me several samples. The grease may be obtained in various viscosities.Here is a link for a company that I am referring to:https://www.nyelubricants.com/damping-greasesOn another note: When cleaning pots (or other electronics) use the products fromhttps://caig.com/. Top notch.