Frozen Rotary Switches

[n8fvj]

I have five frozen rotary switches on a radio. Interesting the chassis and other parts show no corrosion. The switches would not move at all, Then, after 24 hour PB Blaster application I can get the shafts to turn with a pair of plyers, cannot feel the switches detents. Any idea how to further free up?

[KD1SH]

Several other threads have dealt with this. The consensus seems to be to use the right solvent, patience, and perseverance.

http://amfone.net/Amforum/index.php?topic=42641.0
http://amfone.net/Amforum/index.php?topic=47697.0
http://amfone.net/Amforum/index.php?topic=36900.0
http://amfone.net/Amforum/index.php?topic=5056.0
http://amfone.net/Amforum/index.php?topic=34232.0

[n8fvj]

I guess next best option is to heat the collars with a soldering gun then apply PB Blaster. Many take a week of treatments. But at least i got switch movement vs none after two treatments within 24 hours.

[W1ITT]

My new choice for loosening stuck things is a product called Super Zilla.  It's one of those as-seen-on-TV things, but it really does work..better than PB and better than DeepCreep.  And it doesn't stink.  For switches, I 'd squirt some into a thimble then apply it carefully with a toothpick to just where it needs to go.  It's water soluble and supposedly pretty innocuous in the environment but I'd be careful around phenolic wafers as it might soak in and make them soft.  It's great on wheel lugs that haven't been removed for a year or so as well.
73 de Norm W1ITT

[n8fvj]

Expensive tiny bottle with eye dropper at $19. But if PB Blaster does not work well enough, I will try it. Thanks.

[KA2PTE]

50/50 Acetone and ATF, never heard of that before

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNhItP85Tkc

[W1ITT]

Jim...  I paid closer to $42 for the quart bottle with the pump spray.  Price has gone up.  But it has cleaned up my language a bit so I'm not sorry.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/204411874070?epid=1719608133&hash=item2f97e5ab16:g:KnIAAOSw2glkxP1d&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA0IdTJlxxScbWEHVBq9e5DWwIxoFo3hIg1ojokLXgTA3aDK0Empoy2dyE30beyg2IljIf1uvOGMM%2FJP3wye6Sl%2BgVVAnZLf%2B9ak2HZ7IrjtVDaB4zSyc9k%2BkUTdQyGoPasjf6IWWJJMq1sv%2BjatRC3ufE1AT7z9qrIMCDlZML%2FJ8HRzeY1TqemQjHRcuQlWPDO%2F6nqC0yYDKTln%2Fp2gerGj7oIEJ0YMFATdCSsmXenScYnsldfHC2Cui2HOoYAF643G2V5lxC%2BbbmR1QFYTiPfFM%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5TIt_a8Yg
Heck of a URL but that's one example on Fleabay.
73 de Norm W1ITT

[Pete, WA2CWA]

Superzilla - Small Bottle

[n8fvj]

As I previously stated in earlier post Pete. Thanks. $19 a bottle.

[Pete, WA2CWA]

As I previously stated in earlier post Pete. Thanks. $19 a bottle.

And I posted, same stuff in small bottle for $6.95

[n8fvj]

As I previously stated in earlier post Pete. Thanks. $19 a bottle.

And I posted, same stuff in small bottle for $6.95

Oh it is a link. Total is $13.59 with shipping. I bought a bottle and will switch to this vs the PB Blaster. Thanks.

[n8fvj]

4 or 5 switches move with a pair of channel lock plyers after three treatments of PB Blaster. I wait for Super Zella arrival. I will heat the collars before applying Super Zella. This is one resistant radio!
Amazon order is usually quick same day shipping with two day arrival. The Super Zella did not ship for one day, states arrive as late as one week from this Wednesday.

[DMOD]

The grease in the detent assembly (spring steel wafer against ball bearings) usually hardens so I wash them out with CAIG Degreaser Wash and then re-grease (sparingly) with CAIG SM22-N1 grease.  

Consider that you usually have an aluminum shaft rotating inside a steel collar (a bushing). I have found that small aluminum particles slough off and get wedged between the shaft and the bushing. I then use multiple applications of CAIG F100L-L25C fader lube to "wash-out" the shaft.

I have never used Superzilla lube but that appears to be one viable solution as well.

[W7TFO]

I gave SuperZilla a shot in my shop, and it has displaced every penetrating oil in my cabinet.

I've never seen anything work so fast and thoroughly on stuck stuff.

Makes a great cleaning solution as well for nasty, greasy crap that always seems to congregate in radio gear.

73DG

[n8fvj]

Superzilla did not work on shafts, had to return the eBay Ranger for refund. I bought another Ranger.

[Opcom]

Did the seller not indicate the shafts were stuck or difficult? Shame on them.

[n8fvj]

Did the seller not indicate the shafts were stuck or difficult? Shame on them.

They normally do not sell radios, he never checked the shafts. Dumb. He lost his shirt as the shipping was listed at $50 (my payment) and I know cost $130 and then eBasy seller had to pay again $130 to ship back. I bought it due to seller stated 30 days return. Even worst, feeling sorry for the good guy seller I offered to sell parts from the Ranger for immediate $200 (already sold to others) and had another $150 for sale plus no return shipping cost. I would send the sold funds to his PayPal and ship from my location. He turned the offer down- go figure!

I normally do not buy Ham gear from eBayers. But, waited a month for a Ranger and not one came up for sale under $600 from a Ham radio person. Then, finally found a reasonable cost Ranger from a Ham I bought 4 days ago to replace this frozen shaft Ranger from eBay. The Ranger I bought for $130 + $130 shipping failed dim bulb test. Ham checked internal mounted fuse and it was good, but seller does not have any technical skills. It may have a dirty switch or bad power transformer. So, I gamble on it and if xfmr is bad, xfmr new from Heyboer is $270. I have a wanted Ranger xfmr ad on QTH hoping to buy for $50. The Ranger looks like new so I 'gambled' on it.

[n8fvj]

Did the seller not indicate the shafts were stuck or difficult? Shame on them.

They normally do not sell radios, he never checked the shafts. Dumb. He lost his shirt as the shipping was listed at $50 (my payment) and I know cost $130 and then eBasy seller had to pay again $130 to ship back. I bought it due to seller stated 30 days return. Even worst, feeling sorry for the good guy seller I offered to sell parts from the Ranger for immediate $200 (already sold to others) and had another $150 for sale plus no return shipping cost. I would send the sold funds to his PayPal and ship from my location. He turned the offer down- go figure!

I normally do not buy Ham gear from eBayers. But, waited a month for a Ranger and not one came up for sale under $600 from a Ham radio person. Then, finally found a reasonable cost Ranger from a Ham I bought 4 days ago to replace this frozen shaft Ranger from eBay. The Ranger I bought for $130 + $130 shipping failed dim bulb test. Ham checked internal mounted fuse and it was good, but seller does not have any technical skills. It may have a dirty switch or bad power transformer. So, I gamble on it and if xfmr is bad, xfmr new from Heyboer is $270. I have a wanted Ranger xfmr ad on QTH hoping to buy for $50. The Ranger looks like new so I 'gambled' on it.

Update. Bad diode on SS 6AX5. This Ranger has been rebuilt with new capacitors and has push to talk mod. All tubes look new. Steal for $160.