TECHNICAL SUPPLEMENT FOR THE SR-160 & SR-500 by WDØGOF August 2010
20
CLEANING
Step 1
. I have found all forms of foreign matter in rigs emerging from long term storage. My favorite of
cleaning method is the bathtub, Scrubbing Bubbles bathroom cleaner, and the shower hand wand. I set the rig in the
tub, back side down, front panel up. With the rig leaning against the side of the tub I spray it full of Scrubbing
Bubbles and let it set 3 to 5 minutes. Then I spray it full again and after 5 minutes I rinse it using the shower hand
wand. I do this on the top and bottom side of the chassis. I keep the Scrubbing Bubbles away from the front panel,
dials and meters, just use common sense. All the brown residue, smoke odor and filth literally run down the drain.
Very seldom is any scrubbing needed if it is I do it with a ¾” wide paint brush with half the length of the bristles
cut off. I rinse it a second time then it sets in front of a fan for a day.
Step 2
. Now that it is squeaky clean the potentiometers need the application of a suitable control
cleaner/lubricant.
Step 3.
Some mechanical drive trains to tuning devices require special lube so don’t forget them.
Step 4
. The relays are next. I use thin strips of card paper, about 3” long and 3/16” wide. Place a drop of
DeOxit on the paper and slide it back and forth between the contacts. Manually energize the relay and clean the
normally open contacts as well. A pair of hemostats simplifies this step. NEVER USE SANDPAPER.
Step 5
. Now for the controversy, The Wafer Switches! Every three months or so on one of the ham forums a
wafer switch cleaning war breaks out. No minds are changed, no territory is conquered. Hostilities subside only to
be resurrected a few months later when the “new be” asks How do I clean my wafers. There are at least 3 regulars
out there that vehemently oppose my method and that is ok. It works for me and I have not to date suffered any loss
due to it. First I take a cotton swab and cut a little cotton off the tip. I spray a little DeOxit in a small glass bowl. I
dip the swab in the DeOxit and clean the switch. It's pretty simple and no over spray. I
NEVER
spray DeOxit into a
rig.
Step 6
. Now we have to clean the tube sockets. Some where around the tooth brushes at you local store you
will find very small round brushes used to clean between teeth. There are usually 10 or 20 to a package. Once again
I use DeOxit in the glass bowl. Dip the brush, insert the brush, spin the brush, repeat 150 times or so and you’re
done.
these photos are of an SR-150 but they should make the point. This was after second spray of bubbles. You
can see that as the bubbles run down the chassis it is clean and shiny
