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care and feeding of analog oscilloscope

I recently purchased a used Iwatsu SS-5705 (my first) and it seems to function correctly on all 3 channels. I have noticed that when I turn some of the knobs it behaves like there are dirty or loose contacts. What is the best way to go about cleaning/checking the guts of the machine? Is it just a matter of using a contact cleaner or should I be on the look out for cracked/cold solder joints?

Also does anyone know where you can hunt down manuals for these older units? The company itself still exists and makes scopes but they don't go as far back as this unit in the on-line library.

Reply to
dphilli8
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I'm not famiar with that make/model. However I bought a very nice Philips scope on eBay, non-working, which had seriously scratchy/intermittant knobs and switches. I found a good dose of Servisol lubricating switch cleaner did the trick. When I say a good dose, I mean just that! I had to flood the switches and operate them repeatedly to break down the layer of filth/oxide from the contacts, but after a few applications it worked like new.

It's important to use 'lubricating' switch cleaner, anything else may shorten the life of the contacts and give only temporary relief from the symptoms. Some equipment's switches are very hard to access, which might make this a difficult repair, but if you can easily get the tube from the aerosol in, it's straightforward enough and usually very effective.

Dave

Reply to
Dave D

Wouldn't that coat the entire inside of the scope with dust-attracting lubricant? I would first clean all the switches, controls, selectors, etc. with NON-Lubricating cleaner, operate them all several times, then after they're all operating better, spray a SMALL amount of switch lubricant on/in them

Reply to
Jumpster Jiver

Naturally, if one isn't careful! I'm not sure about the 'dust attracting lubricant' though- I find Servisol does't have that effect, the lubicant is very fine. If it wasn't, it would have the same effect on the switches.

I had the switches in question facing down, so the cleaner drained out. Obviously it has to be done with care, the object isn't to just dump it all over the scope indiscriminately.

The scope had already been subject to repair attempts, which had failed, and it had been auctioned on eBay as a fixer-upper. A few minutes of spraying and working the switches gave a complete cure. With the thin tube supplied with the aerosol, it is possible to be very accurate and spray almost all the fluid through the switches, with very little local contamination.

There's no reason your way of using non lubricating switch cleaner initially wouldn't work, but if one has to go out and buy switch cleaner, there's little point in buying two lots for one job.

Dave

Reply to
Dave D

Thanks, I will take a look and give it a try.

Reply to
dphilli8

I have a 5710 manual , don't know if similar email address on URL below

-- Diverse Devices, Southampton, England electronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list on

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Reply to
N Cook

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