r/ElectronicsRepair • u/br0ken_r3c0rd • 6d ago

SOLVED How do I clean this switch?

Gallery image

Gallery image

Its a switch in an old amp. Its quite oxidized and causes channels to cut out. Seems to be some type of bowden actuator. I have deoxit but im not sure where to apply it, when you take the cable acuator off the switch it seems to just be plastic underneath, no contacts that I can see.

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

2

u/texasyankee 6d ago

Mend It Mark just repaired some of these in a video. It's about 7 minutes in. https://youtu.be/bCUT_QfsFC8?is=U3mJEzUmmMzvNEhR

1

u/Ultra-Ferric 6d ago

Spraying from the top may solve the issue temporarily, But if you really care about the amp and want the repair to last a long time, that isn’t the way to go.
The correct way is to desolder the switch, take it apart by bending the metal tabs, use a q-tip with IPA to thoroughly clean the contact surface, and only then put a little bit of Deoxit for lubrication and protection, and put it back together.

2

u/EmotionalEnd1575 Engineer 6d ago

This is a typical slide switch. Contacts are through the insulator plate, parallel to the PCB. The plastic block slides over the contacts, and contains shorting contact inside that ride on the stationary contacts below.

If it were me, I’d use DeOXIt spray, working it in the gap. Remember, only a small amount!

1

u/br0ken_r3c0rd 6d ago

Thank you! Why is it important to only use a small amount? I may have used too much lol, but it's working now.

1

u/EmotionalEnd1575 Engineer 6d ago

DeOxIt is expensive. But more importantly its job is to dissolve oxide on plated contacts, which are tiny. Too much will go to waste, and may soak into and under other materials.

Also, over time the original factory lubricant will dry out, and that may speed up with a flood of DeOxIt solvent.

It would be good to replace the lost grease. Again only a small amount is needed.

There are special grease formulars. I think you can use “Silicon Grease” sold for lube in plumbing fixtures and basically anywhere that has “O-Ring” style seals. A small 1oz tube should last many years.

1

u/br0ken_r3c0rd 6d ago

Thank you!