Recently got my hands on a MK1 that has a few encoders that arent very smooth. My go to for potentiometers on guitars etc is Servisol Super 10. Has anyone used Servisol for encoders or is this a bad idea? If so what are the preferred alternatives?
I wish I would know.
I would love to improve quite a few encoders on my machines and I never found any solution with which I was confident enough to try.
It’s a contact/switch cleaner and lubricator. It’s never failed me on pots but I’m just not sure how encoders might react with it
I know the feeling. With guitars I’ve got plenty of spare pots which are straightforward to replace, encoders are a bit different AFAIK.
Ive seen a few mentions of Deoxit but nothing about it being potentially harmful. Im steering clear until I find out otherwise. I guess they arent really made with servicing in mind, more of a replace than repair part. The blurb for Servisol says “Non-toxic. Does not attack most plastics, rubber etc.” but I might try and email them just in case.
Honestly can’t tell much difference. Did one to test and it was OK but didn’t stop the scratchy feel when turning it. They aren’t user serviceable so I’m just sticking with how they are for now. I might open one up to see if they can be silicone greased or just replace a few.
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I have opened up and repaired my Octatrack encoders a few times, if you need guidance I’ll be happy to help. What caused the scratchiness for me was the little flaps of metal that stick out of the bottom of the encoder circle thingy. They need to stick out to make contact with the ring below but often they move out too far and start scraping along the bottom. While you’re in there it’s worth cleaning and re-lubing them. It’s delicate and imprecise work to repair by hand but with careful adjustments and loads of patience you can get them working smoothly again without replacing.
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The only video Ive found is this one Octatrack Encoder
Im pretty confident with these sort of repairs, my only concern is the strength of the metal tabs that hold the top part down. Were any of them an issue/break?
…never had push encoder issues…
but it’s a good idea to ask, what service liquids might help…
since many do real harm…all worx fine again for a while…and then, never again…
I’ve carefully prised off those metal tabs plenty of times without issue, but YMMV. Be careful and you should be fine. I use a flathead wedge screwdriver to push them away and apply gentle pressure.
And I use a tiny dab of grease on the encoders to ensure smooth operation. Can’t recall the make at this moment.