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Variable capacitor cleaning - Printable Version

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Variable capacitor cleaning - Paperboy - 10-25-2016

I see and read where people have washed their capacitors in the washing machine or in a sonic bath. Question: Are they doing this to variable caps without trimmers or can you do both. I have a dirty 42-321 radio that looks to have mica trimmers. Thanks

RE: Variable capacitor cleaning - morzh - 10-25-2016

I do it to the whole thing, with the trimmers. Did both washing in dishwasher and soaking in dishwashing liquid, with soft long brush agitation and good tap water rinse.

The latter got me better results - bright shiny cap with no residue. Dishwasher worked fine, but it dulled up the vanes a bit. Plus some powdery light residue that though did not affect much was still an extra that I could do without.

RE: Variable capacitor cleaning - Chris h - 10-26-2016

The last few that I have done, that gave me good results, is to place them in my ultrasonic washer with Simple Green and hot water. I'll run as many cycles as it takes to clean it. Some larger caps will require repositioning in the cleaner, though. I was able to get the big tuning cap on my model 95 in there using several cycles. Then I rinse in warm water and place in a low oven to dry out. I have done this to caps, both with and without trimmer caps. So far I have never had an issue. The aluminum always comes out spotless. The cad plated steel frames just come out clean.

After drying I add a few drops of Tri-flow lubricant to the bearings. Unless someone can suggest something better to lube them up, it has been working for me.

RE: Variable capacitor cleaning - morzh - 10-26-2016

Actually big tuning caps are the easiest to clean with just dishwashing liquid and hot water as long as you have a suitable container to place it in. Because the brush bristles easily go between the vanes and it does not take much to clean them.

It is the smaller caps, especially those that are not that small in size but have very densely placed vanes that present some challenge, as the brush has to go far but the space between the vanes is tight and so it does not reach to the opposite end, so it takes a few times re-positioning the cap.

Still it works fine.

Obviously US cleaner is great if one has it. I don't.

RE: Variable capacitor cleaning - KCMike - 10-26-2016

Here is a couple different ultrasonic cleaners. Like Mike I don't have one but I have thought about buying one.
http://www.harborfreight.com/25-liter-ultrasonic-cleaner-63256.html
http://www.ebay.com/itm/181434466620?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
The second one is larger capacity and not that much more.