SSlmixed.com Forum

Tech discussion => General info - Tools,How to - => Topic started by: marcmozart on March 01, 2013, 08:24:51 PM

Title: How to clean a VCA Fader (SSL 4K E/G-Series)
Post by: marcmozart on March 01, 2013, 08:24:51 PM: If your VCA faders cause crackling noises in the audio path, or they don't deliver smooth action any more, they need to be cleaned.

1. I followed this video: http://youtu.be/MHnEJ2y5nv8 (thanks elshiftos)

2. I've put some IsopropylAlcohol on the Q-Tips (70% alcohol), the VCA Fader I've just cleaned had massive amounts of grease/lube on the conductive metal, so whoever worked on that before had no idea...

3. Just one drop of the original P&G Fader Lube on the metal rail (not the conductive) worked great.
(I got it here: http://www.audiomaintenance.com/acatalog/p_g_3000_spare_parts.html )

A cleaned VCA-Fader is a dream!

More info:
Cleaning Instructions for P&G faders:
http://www.coopersound.com/Application/cleanpg.htm

P&G Website (Linear Manual Fader) - this should be whats in our consoles
http://www.penny-giles.de/Linear-Manual-Fader-pd-58,3,27,.php

As always, let me know your experiences!
Title: Re: How to clean a VCA Fader
Post by: Artur D'Assumpção on March 17, 2013, 01:54:44 PM: Please keeps us informed on this!

I'm very interested to see a journal on how to disassemble, clean,test and reassemble a fader unit! :D

Thanks so much!

Cheers,

Artur
Title: Re: How to clean a VCA Fader
Post by: jwhmca on May 09, 2013, 05:34:16 PM: Still interested in a "how to"?
Title: Re: How to clean a VCA Fader
Post by: Artur D'Assumpção on May 23, 2013, 05:36:10 PM: Any news on that how to? Could anyone post some pics or a short video?! :D
Title: Re: How to clean a VCA Fader
Post by: elshiftos on May 24, 2013, 03:24:25 PM: Someone else can do a close-up of cleaning the metal bar and losing the spring in the process :P
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHnEJ2y5nv8
Title: Re: How to clean a VCA Fader
Post by: Matt Sartori on May 25, 2013, 12:46:41 AM: guys ever tried FADER LUBE by caig industries?

it's INCREDIBLE!

http://store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.293/.f

Mattia.
Title: Re: How to clean a VCA Fader
Post by: waltzingbear on May 25, 2013, 07:37:13 AM: cleaning a P&G fader is fairly easy, don't do much.

using nothing liquid to clean the element (dry Qtip) or water as an easiest remedy.

the rod can be lightly lubricated, often with a light oil bearing teflon. I have used TriFlow to good effect or nothing.

P&G cleaning instructions are available at P&G's website or at Dale Manquen's website

<http://www.manquen.net/audio/index.php?page=31>

Alan
Title: Re: How to clean a VCA Fader
Post by: michaeldtech on July 03, 2013, 09:57:31 PM: The Caig fader lube might be OK for VCA faders but I do NOT recommend it for Ultimation, later 9K faders at all, or any other moving fader. It seems to leave a layer too thick for proper conduction, no matter how thin you try to lay it, and you get dancing faders.

I stick with the P&G oil only for bars and tracks on all P&G faders. Small faders also.

Fader Lube is also brilliant for carbon faders and pots, but don't go spraying the 100% solution into things. It should only be applied in a controlled way onto tracks. The F5 is Ok for a little blind spray.
Mike
PS: A studio owner had me look at his stereo receiver because the volume pot was scratchy even after spraying Cramolin Red into it. Yeah, it was a long time ago! I opened it up and he had sprayed so much over years that there was red Cramolin butter all dried and collected between the front and sub panels. Nothing ever got to the pot. . .
Title: Re: How to clean a VCA Fader
Post by: Artur D'Assumpção on October 17, 2013, 09:49:36 PM: Hi guys,

Regarding this thread, can anyone show how to clean a Ultimation fader please?! :D

Cheers,

Artur
Title: Re: How to clean a VCA Fader (SSL 4K E/G-Series)
Post by: marcmozart on March 16, 2014, 09:36:33 AM: Updated by collecting all info on the first post.
Title: Re: How to clean a VCA Fader (SSL 4K E/G-Series)
Post by: matt on March 18, 2014, 08:39:46 AM: Quote from: marcmozart on March 01, 2013, 08:24:51 PM

More info:

A few pics of disassembly:
http://wheatstone-radio.com/reference-materials/pag-series-3000-fader-disassembly.html

Sorry - this is a dead link - at least it only directs to a page where wheatstone tells that they reorganized their page content.

Quote from: marcmozart on March 01, 2013, 08:24:51 PM
Lots of info on P&G faders and service from their US distributor:
http://www.manquen.net/png/

This one as well - the page has gone

too bad - maybe we should copy such information and keep it on this server.

Matt
Title: Re: How to clean a VCA Fader (SSL 4K E/G-Series)
Post by: waltzingbear on March 18, 2014, 03:27:55 PM: I have written Dale to follow up on his site disappearance, I just hear from him about 7 days ago and this site disappearance does not seem kosher. Especially since its Go Daddy that seems to have purloined the site.

as far as Penny and Giles goes, that info is also available at their web site. address not handy.

Alan
Title: Re: How to clean a VCA Fader (SSL 4K E/G-Series)
Post by: waltzingbear on March 19, 2014, 12:21:29 AM: heard from Dale, he had a problem transferring some rights ownership info and the site was interrupted. Some of it is back up and all will be restored soon.

Alan
Title: Re: How to clean a VCA Fader (SSL 4K E/G-Series)
Post by: matt on March 19, 2014, 11:25:09 AM: Thanks for putting your effort into this, Alan.

Matt
Title: Re: How to clean a VCA Fader (SSL 4K E/G-Series)
Post by: radardoug on April 04, 2014, 05:46:16 AM: As another note to this, the VCA master select thumbwheel switches can cause problems with intermittent operation.
You can remove them and clean them in an ultrasonic bath. Use meths as the liquid in the bath.
The solder connections on the fader motherboard are a bit fine, take care when resoldering the switch, as shorts around this switch can create real havoc.