Forums - Scratchy Pots

Doug Seasoned Member Posts: 274	Scratchy Pots 04/13/21 at 12:24:54 What is the best way to clean the five scratchy control pots on my CSP3 with 25th mods?
Back to top	Jay’s CD2T-Mk3 Denafrips Pontus II ZROCK2 25th Mods CSP3 25th & Custom Mods PAP Quintets with Voxativ 1.6 First Watt J2 or Cary 300SEI driving Voxativs—no crossover LFD NCSE driving 15” Woofers IP Logged

EdwardT Seasoned Member Posts: 365	Re: Scratchy Pots Reply #1 - 04/13/21 at 13:13:54 I like Deoxit for most control cleaning as it leaves no reside.
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Kruegs Verified Member Posts: 6	Re: Scratchy Pots Reply #2 - 05/02/21 at 01:57:51 Deoxit Fader works well.
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Doug

Seasoned Member

Posts: 274

Re: Scratchy Pots
Reply #3 - 08/15/21 at 02:58:24

Caig Deoxit D5 worked like charm on all five pots. My CSP3 25th once again has dead silent control knobs! It required three applications over a two week period but it worked out well in the end. I’m still puzzled why and how all five controls got scratchy with my listening room being the driest and most isolated room in our home. I guess all’s well that ends well!

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Jay’s CD2T-Mk3
Denafrips Pontus II
ZROCK2 25th Mods
CSP3 25th & Custom Mods
PAP Quintets with Voxativ 1.6
First Watt J2 or Cary 300SEI
driving Voxativs—no crossover
LFD NCSE driving 15” Woofers

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Thermionic Verified Member Posts: 33	Re: Scratchy Pots Reply #4 - 08/16/21 at 17:41:29 Doug, PAP Quintets with horns, seems to be a common theme within the Decware community. I have PAP Trio15 Classics with Voxatic PiFe due in very soon. Amp is a Decware SE84UFO with anniversary Mod.
Back to top	SE84UFO anniversary mods, Coda 02b, Sim Audio LP310, Linn LP 12, Metrum Onyx, MAC mini, PAP Trio15 Classic PiFe, OPPO 103, PSA P15 regen, various cables, many LPs IP Logged

Archie Seasoned Member Posts: 2731	Re: Scratchy Pots Reply #5 - 08/16/21 at 17:53:07 Quote: Caig Deoxit D5 worked like charm on all five pots. My CSP3 25th once again has dead silent control knobs! It required three applications over a two week period but it worked out well in the end. Could you describe how you applied the Deoxit? Did you open the amp?
Back to top	ZLC Technics 1200G TT w/ Ortofon Jubilee MC cart ZMC1 ZP3 (25th A Mods) ZR2 (25th A Mods) CSP3 (25th A mods) ZMA (25th A mods) Homemade Big Betsy Speakers (F15s) Silver Cabling DIY Isolation platforms under amps & TT. IP Logged

Doug

Seasoned Member

Posts: 274

Re: Scratchy Pots
Reply #6 - 08/17/21 at 22:33:08

I gave the 4 input output controls a very short squirt directly to the silver column and allowed the deoxit to work its way down into the switch. I also turned these 4 controls back and forth from the lowest to highest settings several dozen times to accelerate the cleaning process. On the main volume pot I opened the case and applied the deoxit from the the under side. Whether my application was right or wrong, all five controls, which had become scratchy, are now dead silent when turned. The scratchiness didn’t vanish instantly, but instea, slowly diminished over 2 to 3 weeks. The D5 I purchased is the type with the High, Medium, and Low adjustable spray top, and of course it included the skinny little red straw, all of which made for fairly easy control of the flow with careful depression of the spray button.

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Jay’s CD2T-Mk3
Denafrips Pontus II
ZROCK2 25th Mods
CSP3 25th & Custom Mods
PAP Quintets with Voxativ 1.6
First Watt J2 or Cary 300SEI
driving Voxativs—no crossover
LFD NCSE driving 15” Woofers

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EdwardT

Seasoned Member

Posts: 365

Re: Scratchy Pots
Reply #7 - 08/17/21 at 23:02:59

I’m no expert but generally you can spray the cleaner right on the wipers thru the port under the wiring contacts, that does mean opening the amp for access. On sealed controls the osmosis method of coating the shaft and letting gravity work is the only path. Rotating the controls moves the wipers on the conductive strips and distributes the cleaner while removing the oxidation build up, kinda like brushing your teeth. It all gets you to a happy place in the end.

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Archie Seasoned Member Posts: 2731	Re: Scratchy Pots Reply #8 - 08/18/21 at 01:06:05 Thanks. I recall that the pots are in metal cylinders. Edward, are you saying there is a hole in it that gives access? I like the spray on shaft method for my ZMA since that's a bit of a pain to open due to it's size/weight.
Back to top	ZLC Technics 1200G TT w/ Ortofon Jubilee MC cart ZMC1 ZP3 (25th A Mods) ZR2 (25th A Mods) CSP3 (25th A mods) ZMA (25th A mods) Homemade Big Betsy Speakers (F15s) Silver Cabling DIY Isolation platforms under amps & TT. IP Logged

EdwardT

Seasoned Member

Posts: 365

Re: Scratchy Pots
Reply #9 - 08/18/21 at 14:57:43

I don’t really know which pots are used here, what I do know is that there are two types of controls, sealed and open, and that the open pots are dead simple to clean. Steve's designs are high end so I’d suspect he uses sealed pots to reduce oxidation but sealed units aren’t necessarily top quality just because they’re sealed. If the osmosis technique works for you that's the main thing. You know the old saying, if it ain't broke don’t fix it. Here are two quick screen grabs to show the difference. Open pot first:

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3D009435-9164-4564-8022-A70D5E40F6F7.png

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EdwardT Seasoned Member Posts: 365	Re: Scratchy Pots Reply #10 - 08/18/21 at 15:05:11 And a sealed pot:
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Archie Seasoned Member Posts: 2731	Re: Scratchy Pots Reply #11 - 08/18/21 at 17:02:10 lol, they look the same to me! If I had to choose though, the second picture looks more like what Steve uses. This is a picture of inside my ZMA.
Back to top	IMG_2802a.jpg ZLC Technics 1200G TT w/ Ortofon Jubilee MC cart ZMC1 ZP3 (25th A Mods) ZR2 (25th A Mods) CSP3 (25th A mods) ZMA (25th A mods) Homemade Big Betsy Speakers (F15s) Silver Cabling DIY Isolation platforms under amps & TT. IP Logged

EdwardT Seasoned Member Posts: 365	Re: Scratchy Pots Reply #12 - 08/18/21 at 18:35:36 Those appear to have the opening at the solder pads for the leads, tailor made for a judicious squirt of DeOxit followed by a vigorous twisting.
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Archie Seasoned Member Posts: 2731	Re: Scratchy Pots Reply #13 - 08/19/21 at 17:26:16 Cool, thanks!
Back to top	ZLC Technics 1200G TT w/ Ortofon Jubilee MC cart ZMC1 ZP3 (25th A Mods) ZR2 (25th A Mods) CSP3 (25th A mods) ZMA (25th A mods) Homemade Big Betsy Speakers (F15s) Silver Cabling DIY Isolation platforms under amps & TT. IP Logged