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Topic: There is life after a noisy sealed pot! |
William Johnson
From:
Statesboro, Georgia, USA
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Posted 11 Jul 2011 6:19 am |
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Hello all,
This is an idea many of y'all may want to try, and I have done this many times with 100% success so far.
What do you do when the 500k sealed pot on your volume pedal gets noisy? Many buy a replacement of course. But, if you want to save $5.00 to $10.00 + S&H, try this on your noisy pot.
Since they are sealed, you can not spray contact cleaner into them except maybe very little down around the shaft, right?
Try this:
1. On the back pot cover along its outer edge, mark the lowest point when the pedal is in its normal operating position. After marking, remove pot from volume pedal.
2. Carefully and gently, set a small center-punch on the mark for aid in drilling.
3. Using a small metal-rated twist drill (say 1/32" or 1/16" MAX), carefully drill a hole in the cover at the punched location. NOTE: Barely drill through the metal cover.
4. Spray contact cleaner into the new hole and rotate the pot to clean.
5. Re-install pot, making sure the new hole is near the bottom or lowest point after installing. This is important to allow drainage if excessively sprayed and also helps keep dust out.
This has worked for me. At some point, the pot may become so worn that it can be cleaned and remain 'quiet', so then go purchase a new 500k sealed pot.
I hope this serves you well as it has me.
billy
_________________
William Johnson (Billy)
Statesboro, GA
Sho Bud Student / Emmons DB E9
Sierra DB E9 / ZUM DB E9 / Derby DB E9 Marlen E9 / BMI E9
Mosrite Ventures '69 / Gibson Cherry ES345 / Custom 'Billie-Tele' Telecaster / Gibson '78 J45 / Custom 'P-Strat' Squire Stratocaster / Epi Parlor
Fender '69 Deluxe Reverb / Peavey NV400 + Peavey TubeFex + Goodrich 7A MatchBox & Pedal |
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Jim Smith
From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
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Posted 16 Jul 2011 9:36 am
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Instead of drilling a hole, you can usually pry up the tabs that hold the back on with a small screwdriver, take the cover off, spray the contact cleaner, put the cover back on, and fold the tabs back down.
While it's open, if it's noisy because the graphite wiper is worn out, you can swap that out for one out of a cheap pot, since they're all about the same. |
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Ray Anderson
From:
Jenkins, Kentucky USA
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Posted 16 Jul 2011 10:00 am noisy pot
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Yep, what Jim said... it works and if you will take a q-tip and wipe off the dust or wear particles and spray again then it will work just fine for several months;YMMV. This beats forking over 30.00 every time you hear a little noise. Just takes a few minutes and well worth the effort, This coming from Mr. Tight Wad himself ( I'm just conservative)   |
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William Johnson
From:
Statesboro, Georgia, USA
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Posted 16 Jul 2011 11:00 am
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Yea, I also have pried off the back. I usually drill the hole as it can be used over and over to a point of course, like the wiper wearing out, then I guess it's opening it up & replacing wiper tip or buying a new one!
Usually, there is a way to get around a problem if you have no choice.
Have a great WE.
billy
_________________
William Johnson (Billy)
Statesboro, GA
Sho Bud Student / Emmons DB E9
Sierra DB E9 / ZUM DB E9 / Derby DB E9 Marlen E9 / BMI E9
Mosrite Ventures '69 / Gibson Cherry ES345 / Custom 'Billie-Tele' Telecaster / Gibson '78 J45 / Custom 'P-Strat' Squire Stratocaster / Epi Parlor
Fender '69 Deluxe Reverb / Peavey NV400 + Peavey TubeFex + Goodrich 7A MatchBox & Pedal |
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CrowBear Schmitt
From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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Posted 16 Jul 2011 11:14 am
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got a steelin' buddy who does just what Ray mentions
he takes the innards out, cleans 'em, put's it back together & off he goes till the next time |
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Shorty Rogers
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Posted 16 Jul 2011 4:08 pm
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| I have replaced carbon wipers on a couple of old AB pots. I used old generator brushes. Just file one down until it fits in the holder. I was amazed at how long they lasted, much longer than the originals. Carco Clave told me I got lucky because they use an adhesive that aids in conduction, but mine worked without it. |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 17 Jul 2011 2:19 am
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You can only keep them going for so long. Replacing the wiper can help but eventually the fixed resistance element will wear out and then it's done for.
I replaced a lot of volume pedal pots when I worked as an amp tech in Nashville. As the quality of volume pedal pots "went to pot" I gave up and bought a Hilton VP - no more pots or strings. |
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Paddy Long
From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
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Posted 18 Jul 2011 6:21 pm
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Hehe just another reason why I love my Telonics pedal ! 
_________________
14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
94' Franklin Stereo D10 9+8
Telonics, Peterson, Steelers Choice, Benado, Lexicon, Red Dirt Cases. |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 18 Jul 2011 7:42 pm
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| I have kept a pot pedal going for over ten years by doing this. Only had to do it twice. Works like a charm. I'll take a pot pedal over any of the digital pedals out there today for vintage sound. |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 18 Jul 2011 8:37 pm
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| I do prefer the old pot pedals, I've tried everything I could get my hands on. I like DeOxit F5 Fader Lube. Agreed, maintenance takes time and patience, but most of the pots I've seen have many cleanings in them before they bite the dust when the parts become damaged from years of use (which, as Jack says, they all do eventually). Every once in a while, some old AB 500K pots turn up, good idea to grab a few when you can. |
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