Cleaning a radio.

[Sir Henry]

I cleaned this transistor radio yesterday. It took me about six hours to take it apart, clean and then put it back together. The outside was perfect and just needed a little pledge but the inside was covered with dust, even the tight spaces.

[Sir Henry]

The dial was barely readable and when the volume was changed it gave a crackling sound. Electronic cleaner on the dials helped and very little crackling is left. The dial is glass and not plastic so it cleaned up just like new.

Tell me this doesn't look nice.

[Les]

Great job! The sound quality must be very good with the twin speaker+horn arrangement.

[Sir Henry]

The base speakers have a huge magnet and the amp is rated at 50 watts so it gives a deep sound. The horns are really remarkable and have such a smooth clean sound. It is missing some mid-tones so I have another radio that fills in those sounds. Having three, four, five and even more radios playing the same station really gives a nice sound. I currently have this radio on an FM Christmas station and am getting into the holiday spirit. Or is that spirits?

Five of the six tube radios are on an AM station that plays sports. They are really good for voice/talk, sports and one of my favorites -Suspense Theater. Each radio has a different sound and I not only place them around the house for viewing but also place them to get the overall best tone.

[daytime dave]

Wow, that cleaned up very nicely.

[1911ly]

Cleaning controls: Pick up some De-oxit from your Radio Shack or Electronics parts store. You need a spray with a little bit of a lubricant in it for volume, balance, tone, etc, controls. In a pinch a very very slight amount of WD4O will work as a control cleaner. The contact needs a little oil so the wiper in the control doesn;t cut in to the carbon trace, or in case of a wire type, the wire.

Keep lube type cleaners away from the switch contacts. electro washes are great for that. And always look at the propellant in any cleaner/lube. A lot of stuff is now using butane as a propellant. Using it on a powered on radio is just flat out dangerous, and for many reasons just besides the flames!

Your project is looking great! Keep up the good work. And real radios glow in the dark.....

[Sir Henry]

Cleaning controls: Pick up some De-oxit from your Radio Shack or Electronics parts store. You need a spray with a little bit of a lubricant in it for volume, balance, tone, etc, controls. In a pinch a very very slight amount of WD4O will work as a control cleaner. The contact needs a little oil so the wiper in the control doesn;t cut in to the carbon trace, or in case of a wire type, the wire.

Keep lube type cleaners away from the switch contacts. electro washes are great for that. And always look at the propellant in any cleaner/lube. A lot of stuff is now using butane as a propellant. Using it on a powered on radio is just flat out dangerous, and for many reasons just besides the flames!

Your project is looking great! Keep up the good work. And real radios glow in the dark.....

Thanks, I'm using CRC QD Electronic Cleaner in the red and white can. It doesn't contain butane but it is flammable and the fumes sink to the bottom which indicates some explosive gas.

[1911ly]

Cleaning controls: Pick up some De-oxit from your Radio Shack or Electronics parts store. You need a spray with a little bit of a lubricant in it for volume, balance, tone, etc, controls. In a pinch a very very slight amount of WD4O will work as a control cleaner. The contact needs a little oil so the wiper in the control doesn;t cut in to the carbon trace, or in case of a wire type, the wire.

Keep lube type cleaners away from the switch contacts. electro washes are great for that. And always look at the propellant in any cleaner/lube. A lot of stuff is now using butane as a propellant. Using it on a powered on radio is just flat out dangerous, and for many reasons just besides the flames!

Your project is looking great! Keep up the good work. And real radios glow in the dark.....

Thanks, I'm using CRC QD Electronic Cleaner in the red and white can. It doesn't contain butane but it is flammable and the fumes sink to the bottom which indicates some explosive gas.

That doesn't not have a lubricant. It's more of a degreaser then anything. It's base is alcohol. You NEED to follow it up with a few drops of WD40 at least. Seriously! That cleaner degreased the wiper and the control shaft. The control won't last very long if it is degreased. I have over 40 years in electronics repair. Been there, done that, fixed it. Just trying to be helpful. BTW, the propellant refrigerant. Difluoroethane I just looked up the MSD sheet. Interesting.

[Sir Henry]

Thanks for the tips. Looks like I will be taking it apart again.