NGC-vintage stereo-contact cleaner vs de-oxit

[brider]

My brother-in-law gave me his old DR Brush mower (he bought a new one because "the wheel lock stayed locked on, so I figured it was time for a new one", he didn't bother to kneel down and see that the cable was broken, and the simple sleeve on the axle could be slid back to "unlock" by hand), and when I was poking around his barn, I found a Pioneer SX-850 receiver covered in boxes, dust, and chicken poop. It was his brother's who died recently, and with very little pleading, he gave it to me.

Plugged it in and the lights come on, signal meter moves when you turn the tuner, I suspect it might just work fine with a thorough cleaning.

I've learned that everyone uses de-oxit for work like this, but wouldn't automotive contact cleaner work just the same?

[BRG-BIRD]

The automotive cleaner will be ok for the circuit boards but some folks use plain old soap and water to clean the boards up, do some googling for more info. The automotive cleaner will be too harsh on the switches and pots and I would use Deoxit for them. Audiokarma is a great website for more info.   

Great find BTW

[brider]

Thanks, Bird. I'll check out Audiokarma.

[wirespokes]

I took an electronics course in the mid 80s at the community college. One of the assistants repaired TVs for extra cash and would clean them in the bath tub - scrub them down with soap and water. Then he'd give them a month to dry out.

[Wayne Orwig]

I don't generally use deoxit as a cleaner It is good after a contact is cleaned, to protect it and keep the contact from corroding.
If you are looking to clean a circuit board, maybe some alcohol in a sprayer.
Potentiometers/volume controls are a problem. Some cleaners will take the lube out of them.