Crackling Potentiometer

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ghosstt
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Crackling Potentiometer

Post by ghosstt »

Well, I have a really old Tube Guitar Amp that my grandpa gave to me. (It was his when he was younger, so this is pretty old). The volume pot crackles SO LOUD that its unbearable. The worst part is, is that it sometimes doesn't even work :lol: It will crackle when you turn it, and not even get louder. If I take off the knob and spray the Pot with some WD-40, would that work?

EDIT: here is a picture of it. Google only has 2 pictures and a schematic.. There is barely any information on these things.

Image
bicostp
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Post by bicostp »

See if you can get a new pot for it. Chances are the original is corroded, full of crap, or just plain worn out.

Alternately you could take it apart and clean the contacts inside with rubbing alcohol. The process for cleaning Atari paddles is basically the same, since they're just glorified pots. Here's the first guide that came up which wasn't a "How do I do this?" "I dunno lol" forum thread:

http://www.longhornengineer.com/Fixatar ... 2600paddle

Or you could get a can of this crap and spray it in the little crack between the pot's post and casing:
http://www.radioshack.com/sm-tv-tuner-c ... 03700.html
ghosstt
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Posts: 1551
Joined: Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:14 pm

Post by ghosstt »

Well, it just very recently started doing it. (a month or two ago it never did). Do you think some WD-40 might do the trick too?
Mister X
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Post by Mister X »

WD-40 is a flammable water-displacer. Invest in some contact cleaner.
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