Got a vintage amplifier, sounds good, works good.
I opened the cover, it is really duty inside, lots of oil stains on boards and components. Believe the first owner used it in the ketchen somewhere.
Wonder if there is something that can remove the oil stain all over ? I applied WD40, it became even worse.
Thanks.
I opened the cover, it is really duty inside, lots of oil stains on boards and components. Believe the first owner used it in the ketchen somewhere.
Wonder if there is something that can remove the oil stain all over ? I applied WD40, it became even worse.
Thanks.
It depends on internal components and how dirty it is. Brake clean used to do a pretty good job. Some of the newer formulas don't do so much. Motor cleaner works on tougher messes. Car amps clean up well in the top drawer of the dishwasher and a couple days to dry. Years ago I cleaned out one that a drunk had urinated in with a power washer but one of the selector buttons was missing when I was done.
hehe, interesting experience.
Can I use these cleaner to wash inside competely? that sounds good.
Thanks.
Any good cleaner that doesn't leave a residue is fine. Just make sure it's dry before you power it up.
careful with the solvents - some eat plastics used in electronics - ketones are bad, some aromatics too depending on the plastic
soapy water should be good, final rinses with distilled, then isopropyl
and "bake" can be a problem too polystyrene caps melt
soapy water should be good, final rinses with distilled, then isopropyl
and "bake" can be a problem too polystyrene caps melt
Last edited:
I once worked for a background music company and they had one of their tape player
amplifier units returned after a California mud slide. It was Packed solid with mud.
After taking off the top and bottom covers, I used a garden hose to clean out the
mud and let it sit for three days and it worked perfectly.I also worked for a
Crt video projector manufacturer that used a Lady Kenmore dish washer to clean
their boards. Make sure that you remove parts that can capture water, like knobs
and the front pannel, wood parts, etc. and let it sit at least 3 days after
running it through your dish washer
Electronic circuit boards are very tolerant to hot soapy water.
amplifier units returned after a California mud slide. It was Packed solid with mud.
After taking off the top and bottom covers, I used a garden hose to clean out the
mud and let it sit for three days and it worked perfectly.I also worked for a
Crt video projector manufacturer that used a Lady Kenmore dish washer to clean
their boards. Make sure that you remove parts that can capture water, like knobs
and the front pannel, wood parts, etc. and let it sit at least 3 days after
running it through your dish washer
Electronic circuit boards are very tolerant to hot soapy water.
Last edited:
As an ex service engineer the cleaning of TV chassis (main PCB's) together with all common electronic goods was part of regular life.
Foam clean and a soft paintbrush followed by a good rinse under a hot tap followed by patting dry with paper towel and then a thorough air dry (such as on a radiator) works wonders.
The only parts likely to be adversely affected are transformers, particularly small interstage types (as in tuners/IF strips) and trimmer caps (tuners again).
Just make sure its all dry before powering up and you'll be fine.
Foam clean and a soft paintbrush followed by a good rinse under a hot tap followed by patting dry with paper towel and then a thorough air dry (such as on a radiator) works wonders.
The only parts likely to be adversely affected are transformers, particularly small interstage types (as in tuners/IF strips) and trimmer caps (tuners again).
Just make sure its all dry before powering up and you'll be fine.
I always do the cleaning in these steps:
1. Dusting and air blowing
2. Degreasing with isopropyl or 96% ethanol and narrow and soft painting brush of both sides of PCBs with small round movements to reach around and under every component
3. Same as step 2 with tap water, dishwashing liquid and brush, rinse
4. While still wet, final rinse with distilled or demineralized water to avoid stains
5. Allow 48 hours to dry in a warm place and pay particular attention on transformers if soaking them
Other useful hints:
- break the unit down to parts, do not soak the whole unit
- skip step 2 on exterior parts made of plastic and/or parts with print on them
- do not soak wooden parts
- remove relays which might not be vacuum sealed anymore due to ageing
- skipping step 3 may leave white residue on PCBs which is a product of chemical reaction with flux
- be prepared to replace a trimpot or a potentiometer which may break down in the process (which means it was bad anyway)
- BY ALL MEANS MAKE SURE ALL PARTS ARE SUPERDRY AND DO NOT HURRY TO ASSEMBLE IT TOGETHER
1. Dusting and air blowing
2. Degreasing with isopropyl or 96% ethanol and narrow and soft painting brush of both sides of PCBs with small round movements to reach around and under every component
3. Same as step 2 with tap water, dishwashing liquid and brush, rinse
4. While still wet, final rinse with distilled or demineralized water to avoid stains
5. Allow 48 hours to dry in a warm place and pay particular attention on transformers if soaking them
Other useful hints:
- break the unit down to parts, do not soak the whole unit
- skip step 2 on exterior parts made of plastic and/or parts with print on them
- do not soak wooden parts
- remove relays which might not be vacuum sealed anymore due to ageing
- skipping step 3 may leave white residue on PCBs which is a product of chemical reaction with flux
- be prepared to replace a trimpot or a potentiometer which may break down in the process (which means it was bad anyway)
- BY ALL MEANS MAKE SURE ALL PARTS ARE SUPERDRY AND DO NOT HURRY TO ASSEMBLE IT TOGETHER
Make sure the stains are not from leaking capacitors. In that case you should avoid wet cleaning before replacing the faulty ones.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.