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Help me clean my pots!

13 posts by 9 people · 20 Apr 1998 - 27 Apr 1998

I've got a Thrustmaster T2 gas pedal on the blitz, and several people recommended cleaning the pots. I opened up the bottom of the unit and see two circle-shaped things with tape on them and red and white wires. What do I do? I'm very low-tech, can someone help out? Also, is "DeoxIT" the right stuff to clean my pots? One more, "pots" stands for potentiometers right? Tom
Not sure if I'm responding to a 'Tom' or a 'Melissa'! However....answers are provided below....... -- Regards, Bruce. ---------------------------------- Grab a spray can of "electronic contact cleaner"....there are quite a few brand-names but ask at your local electronics outlet. The can should have one of those tubes that can be plugged into the spray button. Spray some of the liquid into the hole(s) on the pot (yes...'potentiometer') and wiggle the knob backwards and forwards so that the wiper surfaces are cleaned. You should spray enough so that liquid dribbles out of the device, flushing out any carbon dust (from the wiper ring) and any dirt and dust deposits. I'm very low-tech, can I'm certainly trying to! See above about brand-names but whatever you do *DO NOT* spray a lubricant into the pot.....no WD40 or any of that type of stuff should ever be sprayed into pots.........it cleans absolutely nothing and attracts more gunk than you can poke a stick at. Now, Grasshopper........go for it!! :-) Yep! -----------
Tom Anderso 20 Apr 1998#405769
Bruce - I'm Tom - I wrote the message, and the post you put up was one that someone wrote to me before. My problem is that I don't know what the pot looks like. I've got my T2 open and I see these circular things with masking tape over them. Am I supposed to remove the tape and squirt it in there? I don't see any moveable parts. Should I just push the pedal back and forth after I squirt in the juice?
Quoted text (11 lines)> Not sure if I'm responding to a 'Tom' or a 'Melissa'! > However....answers are provided below....... > -- > Regards, > Bruce. > ---------------------------------- > > I've got a Thrustmaster T2 gas pedal on the blitz, and several people > > recommended cleaning the pots. I opened up the bottom of the unit and
see > > two circle-shaped things with tape on them and red and white wires. What > do > > I do? > Grab a spray can of "electronic contact cleaner"....there are quite a few > brand-names but ask at your local electronics outlet. The can should have > one of those tubes that can be plugged into the spray button. > Spray some of the liquid into the hole(s) on the pot > (yes...'potentiometer') and wiggle the knob backwards and forwards so that
Quoted text (12 lines)> the wiper surfaces are cleaned. You should spray enough so that liquid > dribbles out of the device, flushing out any carbon dust (from the wiper > ring) and any dirt and dust deposits. > I'm very low-tech, can > > someone help out? > I'm certainly trying to! > > Also, is "DeoxIT" the right stuff to clean my pots? > See above about brand-names but whatever you do *DO NOT* spray a
lubricant
Quoted text (11 lines)> into the pot.....no WD40 or any of that type of stuff should ever be > sprayed into pots.........it cleans absolutely nothing and attracts more > gunk than you can poke a stick at. > Now, Grasshopper........go for it!! :-) > > One more, "pots" stands for potentiometers right? > Yep! > -----------
% Bruce - I'm Tom - I wrote the message, and the post you put up was one that % someone wrote to me before. My problem is that I don't know what the pot % looks like. I've got my T2 open and I see these circular things with % masking % tape over them. Am I supposed to remove the tape and squirt it in there? % I don't see any moveable parts. Should I just push the pedal back and forth % after I squirt in the juice? The pots are usually slivery-metal cylinders and should have a couple of wires connected to them. On one (for the pedals) there should be a small shaft with a gear attached (the gears may only be geared on half of the "circle"). Use the "tube" attachement for your switch cleaner and spray the cleaner inside the unit. I usually use the openings where the wires are attached to the lugs. When the cleaner starts to come shooting back out, stop spraying and then move the pedals several times through their full motion. This will work the cleaner over all the contacts. For good measure go through this process one more time before you seal up the unit and head back out to the track. If the above doesn't get you going, contact Thrustmaster's Support site and requestion new pots (or you can get a RMA and send the unit in for them to replace them from you -- as it will require some soldering). http://www.thrustmaster.com/support/servmail.htm -- **************************** Michael E. Carver ************************* Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./. [- < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
KREVH TADE 21 Apr 1998#405934
Hi all, go to http://www.lfrs.com and into utilities or something like that. You'll find t2fix.zip file there. Download it, unzip it and read the document. It's about cleaning the pot in the wheel, but it's the same thing for the pots in the peddals. Wouldn't know. I used sewing machine oil. Yupp. Regards, Tadej Krevh TSW Monkey Grand Prix Co-manager TSW Monkey Grand Prix Technical Director LFRS clas B (http://www.lfrs.com)
You used SEWING MACHINE OIL??????? I suggest that you clean them again, this time with a proprietary brand electronic contact cleaner, as soon as possible. What they are now doing is attracting and holding every bit of dust and dirt that comes near them!! -- Regards, Bruce.
Joe Droga 21 Apr 1998#405936
Yikes! I WAS gonna try an' be cute and suggest SOS pads, but with this I'd better not! Joe
Quoted text (15 lines)> You used SEWING MACHINE OIL??????? > I suggest that you clean them again, this time with a proprietary brand > electronic contact cleaner, as soon as possible. What they are now doing > is attracting and holding every bit of dust and dirt that comes near them!! > -- > Regards, > Bruce. > > Wouldn't know. I used sewing machine oil.
KREVH TADE 22 Apr 1998#406094
Hi, yes, I used sewing machine oil :) And it works just great. I've cleaned my pots 3 or 4 months ago (they were in a really bad shape) and my wheel still works like new. Now way, I am not opening that thingie again. I really hate the glue TM puts on their screws :) and as I said, there is no need to do that. Erm, I've closed the pots when putting them back ;) Regards, Tadej Krevh
I cleaned mine on my grinder in the garage. Now I can't find the goddam things, just this 'lil pile of metal shavings. Rick
Steve 22 Apr 1998#406096
Thanks for the info Bruce. I originally followed the WD-40 advice offered by persons unknown and blamed the short life span on cheap parts. Went to radio $hack last night and got some Tuner Control cleaner & lube and the Wheel is working great again. Hadn't thought of it collecting dust as I figured it was enclosed in it's own pot & the wooden box that I made my wheel of (complete with sawdust, sigh). Steve-S Ps. Humble apologies to everyone to whom I suggested WD-40.
Quoted text (30 lines)> > Now way, I am not opening that thingie again. I really hate the glue TM > > puts on their screws :) and as I said, there is no need to do that. > > > What they are now doing > > > is attracting and holding every bit of dust and dirt that comes near them!! > > Erm, I've closed the pots when putting them back ;) > > Regards, > > Tadej Krevh > Okay.....your loss. > If the pedal unit is on the floor then believe me when I say that dirt > and dust is getting into the actual potentiometer unit. Also believe me > when I tell you that you have not "cleaned" the carbon ring/brass wiper > by using sewing machine oil: you have lubricated the components and left > an efficient dust-attracting residue. The carbon ring will be eroded > away in half the time as it would under normal usage and cleaning. It's > accuracy will also degrade and you will have to "clean" it more often. > This information comes to you free-of-charge from an ex-electronics > technician. > -- > Regards, > --- > Bruce. > The Grand Prix Legends Historic Motor Racing Club:- > http://www.netspeed.com.au/brucek/legends/
-- +-----------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ | New boy joins this world | | And quickly he's subdued | Split_S3 on IRC | | Thru constant pain and disgrace | Steve-S on TEN | | This young boy learns their rules | Unforgiven (unfg) on Warbirds | | Metallica | Dweebs of Death - Cadet | +-----------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ | www.concentric.net/~steve-s | Dale Earnhardt #1 | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Okay.....your loss. If the pedal unit is on the floor then believe me when I say that dirt and dust is getting into the actual potentiometer unit. Also believe me when I tell you that you have not "cleaned" the carbon ring/brass wiper by using sewing machine oil: you have lubricated the components and left an efficient dust-attracting residue. The carbon ring will be eroded away in half the time as it would under normal usage and cleaning. It's accuracy will also degrade and you will have to "clean" it more often. This information comes to you free-of-charge from an ex-electronics technician. -- Regards, --- Bruce. The Grand Prix Legends Historic Motor Racing Club:- http://www.netspeed.com.au/brucek/legends/
David Marti 27 Apr 1998#406711
Quoted text (17 lines)> > Thanks for the info Bruce. I originally followed the WD-40 advice > > offered by persons unknown and blamed the short life span on cheap > > parts. Went to radio $hack last night and got some Tuner Control > > cleaner & lube and the Wheel is working great again. Hadn't thought of > > it collecting dust as I figured it was enclosed in it's own pot & the > > wooden box that I made my wheel of (complete with sawdust, sigh). > > -- > No problem, Steve. > Glad you could use a few words of wisdom from an oldie! :-) > -- > Regards, > --- > Bruce. > The Grand Prix Legends Historic Motor Racing Club:- > http://www.netspeed.com.au/brucek/legends/
No matter what you do to clean your pots they will eventually wear out. If anyone has a good source of 100K Ohm pots with plastic shafts please post the info to the newsgroup. I have to replace mine about twice a year and very few suppliers carry 100K Ohm pots. 200K Ohm pots will work, but it is incredible how much better a 100K feels. David Martin

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