My current restoration project, a Marconi Model 187, has a bank of 14 pushbuttons. I tried a spray contact cleaner with unacceptable success.

So, I have removed the entire switch assembly to gain access to the switch contacts. What a job that was.

My question, is there any risk of damaging the plating on the contacts if I use naval jelly to clean them?

I was planning on applying the jelly on a few of the switch contacts, let it sit for a couple of minutes, brush a bit, then rinse with water. Repeating this process for each of the 14 switches.

Advice & suggestions would be appreciated.

Gary

Gary - I think that should be OK. I use Naval Jelly for cleaning the pins of octal and pre-octal tubes. They are usually plated with nickel, I think.

But I usually let the jelly set for more than a few minutes - maybe 15 or so? It seems like rinsing with warm water is better than cold. Follow up by wiping with a paper towel. You don't want any trace of the jelly left on the parts.
Doug

No sure what spray cleaner you used. DeOxit might do the job?

:
:My current restoration project, a Marconi Model 187, has a bank of 14 pushbuttons. I tried a spray contact cleaner with unacceptable success.
:
:So, I have removed the entire switch assembly to gain access to the switch contacts. What a job that was.
:
:My question, is there any risk of damaging the plating on the contacts if I use naval jelly to clean them?
:
:I was planning on applying the jelly on a few of the switch contacts, let it sit for a couple of minutes, brush a bit, then rinse with water. Repeating this process for each of the 14 switches.
:
:Advice & suggestions would be appreciated.
:
:Gary
:
:

:Gary - I think that should be OK. I use Naval Jelly for cleaning the pins of octal and pre-octal tubes. They are usually plated with nickel, I think.
:
:But I usually let the jelly set for more than a few minutes - maybe 15 or so? It seems like rinsing with warm water is better than cold. Follow up by wiping with a paper towel. You don't want any trace of the jelly left on the parts.
:Doug
:
:No sure what spray cleaner you used. DeOxit might do the job?
:
::
::My current restoration project, a Marconi Model 187, has a bank of 14 pushbuttons. I tried a spray contact cleaner with unacceptable success.
::
::So, I have removed the entire switch assembly to gain access to the switch contacts. What a job that was.
::
::My question, is there any risk of damaging the plating on the contacts if I use naval jelly to clean them?
::
::I was planning on applying the jelly on a few of the switch contacts, let it sit for a couple of minutes, brush a bit, then rinse with water. Repeating this process for each of the 14 switches.
::
::Advice & suggestions would be appreciated.
::
::Gary
::
::
Hi Doug and Gary,
I have had good luck with conact cleaner. A while back though I didn't. No matter how much I sprayed the band switch on the radio, sound kept cutting out. Jiggling the band switch would get it running again.
Eventually I found that the problem was not the band switch at all, but that pin 1 on the 6BE6 had lost is spring, and was no longer making good conatact.
If heroic attempts to resuscitate switches fail, then the problem may be elswhere.

By the way, I am eager to try the naval jelly. I have a radio here that looks like it spent about 30 years in a barn.

Best Regards,

Bill Grimm

You might wana try simple rubbing alcohol...Can find it at Walmart or other stores for a buck or two...I spay or drop it on contacts and work contact till clean ..then "wash" again with alcohol...The alcohol works VERY good and dries in a matter of minnutes..I use this proceedure for all electrical contacts and swithches. I DO NOT RECOMMEND WD 40..many people use this product. WD40 will leave a "gunky" mess as it dries out in a few months...

::Gary - I think that should be OK. I use Naval Jelly for cleaning the pins of octal and pre-octal tubes. They are usually plated with nickel, I think.
::
::But I usually let the jelly set for more than a few minutes - maybe 15 or so? It seems like rinsing with warm water is better than cold. Follow up by wiping with a paper towel. You don't want any trace of the jelly left on the parts.
::Doug
::
::No sure what spray cleaner you used. DeOxit might do the job?
::
:::
:::My current restoration project, a Marconi Model 187, has a bank of 14 pushbuttons. I tried a spray contact cleaner with unacceptable success.
:::
:::So, I have removed the entire switch assembly to gain access to the switch contacts. What a job that was.
:::
:::My question, is there any risk of damaging the plating on the contacts if I use naval jelly to clean them?
:::
:::I was planning on applying the jelly on a few of the switch contacts, let it sit for a couple of minutes, brush a bit, then rinse with water. Repeating this process for each of the 14 switches.
:::
:::Advice & suggestions would be appreciated.
:::
:::Gary
:::
:::
:Hi Doug and Gary,
: I have had good luck with conact cleaner. A while back though I didn't. No matter how much I sprayed the band switch on the radio, sound kept cutting out. Jiggling the band switch would get it running again.
: Eventually I found that the problem was not the band switch at all, but that pin 1 on the 6BE6 had lost is spring, and was no longer making good conatact.
: If heroic attempts to resuscitate switches fail, then the problem may be elswhere.
:
: By the way, I am eager to try the naval jelly. I have a radio here that looks like it spent about 30 years in a barn.
:
:Best Regards,
:
:Bill Grimm

Doug,

I have chickened out on using the naval jelly to clean these switches. Instead I have cleaned all of the contacts with alcohol. I used a small test-tube like brush to scrub the contacts that I could reach.

It is a complex switch assembly and I know there would be no hope in replacing it. So I am proceeding with caution. I may need to resort to the naval jelly if this doesn't work.

I emailed you a couple of photos.

Thanks for your advice.
Gary

:Gary - I think that should be OK. I use Naval Jelly for cleaning the pins of octal and pre-octal tubes. They are usually plated with nickel, I think.
:
:But I usually let the jelly set for more than a few minutes - maybe 15 or so? It seems like rinsing with warm water is better than cold. Follow up by wiping with a paper towel. You don't want any trace of the jelly left on the parts.
:Doug
:
:No sure what spray cleaner you used. DeOxit might do the job?
:
::
::My current restoration project, a Marconi Model 187, has a bank of 14 pushbuttons. I tried a spray contact cleaner with unacceptable success.
::
::So, I have removed the entire switch assembly to gain access to the switch contacts. What a job that was.
::
::My question, is there any risk of damaging the plating on the contacts if I use naval jelly to clean them?
::
::I was planning on applying the jelly on a few of the switch contacts, let it sit for a couple of minutes, brush a bit, then rinse with water. Repeating this process for each of the 14 switches.
::
::Advice & suggestions would be appreciated.
::
::Gary
::
::

Doug,

I got brave and decided to take your advice. I applied naval jelly to all contacts, exercised the switches. I modified an old toothbrush to rub down each and every switch. I let the jelly sit about 6 to 8 minutes then, under warm water, brushed all the contacts again.

The result was almost 100% successful. I still have one switch that is a bit touchy but I think it may be due to insufficient contact spring tension, not oxidization.

Anyway, thanks again for the help.

Gary

:Gary - I think that should be OK. I use Naval Jelly for cleaning the pins of octal and pre-octal tubes. They are usually plated with nickel, I think.
:
:But I usually let the jelly set for more than a few minutes - maybe 15 or so? It seems like rinsing with warm water is better than cold. Follow up by wiping with a paper towel. You don't want any trace of the jelly left on the parts.
:Doug
:
:No sure what spray cleaner you used. DeOxit might do the job?
:
::
::My current restoration project, a Marconi Model 187, has a bank of 14 pushbuttons. I tried a spray contact cleaner with unacceptable success.
::
::So, I have removed the entire switch assembly to gain access to the switch contacts. What a job that was.
::
::My question, is there any risk of damaging the plating on the contacts if I use naval jelly to clean them?
::
::I was planning on applying the jelly on a few of the switch contacts, let it sit for a couple of minutes, brush a bit, then rinse with water. Repeating this process for each of the 14 switches.
::
::Advice & suggestions would be appreciated.
::
::Gary
::
::

Gary,
I use silverware dip solution and an acid brush trimmed shorter for the job. The solution can be found at grocery/drug stores everywhere. Rinse well with de-ionized/faucet water and blow dry. Although silicon grease is a good conductive lubricant, it'll gather dust etc over time. Naval Jelly may be a bit harsh for most silver plated contacts.

marv

:
:My current restoration project, a Marconi Model 187, has a bank of 14 pushbuttons. I tried a spray contact cleaner with unacceptable success.
:
:So, I have removed the entire switch assembly to gain access to the switch contacts. What a job that was.
:
:My question, is there any risk of damaging the plating on the contacts if I use naval jelly to clean them?
:
:I was planning on applying the jelly on a few of the switch contacts, let it sit for a couple of minutes, brush a bit, then rinse with water. Repeating this process for each of the 14 switches.
:
:Advice & suggestions would be appreciated.
:
:Gary
:
: