Digital Volume Controls

It is very common for the 'stirring treacle' grease to migrate down the spindle and onto the Gray disc and contacts in these rotary encoders, as used as the volume control on many cheapo hifi units. I have restored more of these than I care to remember over the years, by completely removing all the grease from the disc and contacts. Before reassembling, I always add just a little good quality (Electrolube in my case) contact cleaner / lubricant, although strictly speaking, this should not be necessary, as both the disc and the fixed contacts are usually gold plated. The success rate and long-term refailure rate are excellent if you do a decent job, and it doesn't take long.

Arfa

It is very common for the 'stirring treacle' grease to migrate down the spindle and onto the Gray disc and contacts in these rotary encoders, as used as the volume control on many cheapo hifi units. I have restored more of these than I care to remember over the years, by completely removing all the grease from the disc and contacts. Before reassembling, I always add just a little good quality (Electrolube in my case) contact cleaner / lubricant, although strictly speaking, this should not be necessary, as both the disc and the fixed contacts are usually gold plated. The success rate and long-term refailure rate are excellent if you do a decent job, and it doesn't take long.

Arfa