Cleaning Emmons Volume Pedal Pot

Boo Bernstein · Post by **Boo Bernstein** » 24 Jun 2006 3:57 pm

I know this has been asked many times, but I can't seem to find any of the specific posts about this. I have an Emmons volume pedal that I haven't used for a while and it has become scratchy. I know the pots are sealed but it seems like I've read on the Forum about ways to get cleaner into them. Can someone please help me? Thanks, Boo

John Daugherty · Post by **John Daugherty** » 24 Jun 2006 5:00 pm

The only way I know to clean them is, take the pot out,remove the back cover from the pot and spray the resistance element with contact cleaner. You don't have to remove the wires. Just get the pot in a position so you can bend back the tabs which hold the cover on the pot. You will probably have to slide the pulley off of the pot.
I have never seen the inside of an Emmons pedal, but I assume it is about the same as Goodrich and others.
Just today I cleaned a Clarostat pot in a Goodrich. It took about 20 minutes.

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www.home.earthlink.net/~johnd37

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 24 Jun 2006 5:13 pm

Boo,
I found this topic in a search.
Does the author look familiar?

http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum11/HTML/007898.html

[This message was edited by Jay Ganz on 24 June 2006 at 06:23 PM.]

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 24 Jun 2006 5:18 pm

Everything sounds great except this:

"spray the resistance element with contact cleaner."

You should NEVER use contact *cleaner* on a pot or switch, ever. Only use "cleaner/lubricant" types. The "cleaners" remove all the lubricating oils and your pot will be totally destroyed in a matter of an hour or so of use.

Caig Pro Gold is a good product; there are others as well. But again - a cleaner alone should NEVER be used.

And WD-40 is not a guitar-related item. At all. For anything. Period.

Boo Bernstein · Post by **Boo Bernstein** » 24 Jun 2006 5:31 pm

Jay -- LOL

I actually knew I had posted this one before but couldn't seem to find it ... must be old age!

Thanks to everyone for their help. Boo

Boo Bernstein · Post by **Boo Bernstein** » 24 Jun 2006 6:41 pm

As long as I'm asking questions about the Emmons volume pedal ... two Emmons pedals have Clarostat pots, Type EJ -- there is the number EJAIN116P504A ... but under two of them there is a number: 9225. The third one (that doesn't sound as good)says 9614 under the other number. Does anyone know the difference or what these numbers mean? Thanks, Boo

James Cann · Post by **James Cann** » 24 Jun 2006 9:04 pm

. . . NEVER use contact *cleaner*. . . Only use "cleaner/lubricant" types. The "cleaners" remove all the lubricating oils and your pot will be totally destroyed in a matter of an hour or so of use.

Amen--in my case a matter of the first cycle of my foot!

Boo Bernstein · Post by **Boo Bernstein** » 24 Jun 2006 10:08 pm

bump

Mike Fried · Post by **Mike Fried** » 24 Jun 2006 10:26 pm

Boo, I believe that four-digit number is the date code, the first two digits being the year and the second two being the week of that year. That system is common in electronic parts such as potentiometers, tubes, and speakers.

John Daugherty · Post by **John Daugherty** » 26 Jun 2006 8:59 am

Jim, the contact cleaners I use, leave a protective coating that prevents oxidation and "junk" buildup. I was probably using these before you were born. I have had an excellent success rate with repairing noisy pots.
If the contact cleaner contains a lot of "junk" additives, it will collect trash the same way WD-40 does.
The "junk" that was on the new control collects trash which causes noise. That is the reason I remove it.
We all have different theories. I'm sticking with the solution that has worked for me for years. I clean pots in equipment, daily, in my repair business.

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www.home.earthlink.net/~johnd37

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 26 Jun 2006 1:42 pm

The "protective lubricant" used is now liquid silicone, almost exclusively. Pots have a pair of wipers (contact fingers, really) near the center, just inside of the resistive element. Sometimes, it's not the resistive element or wiper-block, but these fingers that get dirty and make the noise. Spray the whole inside of the pot to get all the dirt out, and leave a good coating lubricant. Also remember to lube the shaft (where it enters the bushing) about once a year with some light "3 in 1", or a similar oil.

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 26 Jun 2006 3:55 pm

"Jim, the contact cleaners I use, leave a protective coating that prevents oxidation and "junk" buildup."

That's the type of stuff I meant. I've never seen one labeled "contact cleaner" though - they always add "lubricant" or "conditioner" in there somewhere, if they have a lubricant.

I was just warning against the use of the "cleaner-only" types, which will destroy a pot in nothing flat.

John Daugherty · Post by **John Daugherty** » 26 Jun 2006 5:07 pm

Yes, Jim, There are many cleaners called "contact cleaner". Some are cleaner/silicone mixture as Donny pointed out. You have to read the fine print to see what it contains. They could leave the "contact" off the name and call it "cleaner" and we would be less confused.

I have tried some cleaners that left so much sticky-goo on the surface that they worked like a dirt trap. Thanks to everyones help, I think Bob has a good idea of how to clean the pot by now.

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www.home.earthlink.net/~johnd37

Boo Bernstein · Post by **Boo Bernstein** » 27 Jun 2006 1:02 pm

Yes, thanks again to everyone for your help and input. I actually got the pot opened and sprayed the inside ... and it worked! That's why I love this Forum. Thanks also to those who emailed me directly with their helpful advice and support! Boo