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Re: A2 Joystick Maintenance
Polymorph wrote:
Thanks guys,
I've attempted further cleaning using a combination of contact cleaner
and WD-40, and I think I've either flooded the pots and need to wait
for them to dry out, or done some damage. Because I seem to have killed
the pots altogether - they are showing no resistance whatsoever now....
:-(
WD-40 was a mistake. It has solvent properties that may extend to
the binder of the carbon resistance elements. There are special
solvents available at electronics stores designed specifically for
cleaning pots and switch contacts. BTW, *never* mix solvents unless
you know specifically what will happen.
It's a little late now, but often you can reduce or eliminate pot
contact noise just by repeatedly (*very* repeatedly ;-) moving the
wiper back and forth across the range which displays the noise.
It goes faster with cleaner, but unassisted friction often will do
the job.
I run the basic joystick tester, and both paddles are stuck on 255 (ie.
no resistance). I'll leave them overnight and hopefully they might dry
out.
You may have just dissolved the resistance elements right off the
backing plastic.
Failing that, does anyone know where one can buy 150K pots? They seem
to be hard to come by now...
They aren't plentiful, and a joystick often imposes certain size and
shaft requirements, as well as 0-150K in about 30 degrees of rotation.
Your best bet may be to simply replace the joystick. ;-(
-michael
New, faster SUDOKU v2.0 solver for Apple II's!
Home page: http://members.aol.com/MJMahon/
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