Pots too tight. How to loosen?

[PRSkeeto]

How can I loosen the taper on my volume pot? I needed a replacement volume pot on one of my guitars and bought a few replacements of the same brand. All of the new ones are very stiff throughout their taper. My original was much looser and was always like that. Is there any way to alter this for a faster/looser feel?

[EADGBE]

I don't know of anyway to loosen them myself. I'm just curious, what brand are they?

[walterw]

they are often packed with some sort of wax. pour a little naphtha (zippo lighter fluid) in there and work it back and forth. you'll feel it loosen up immediately.

[5er Driver]

Put just a little bit of contact cleaner on the shaft at the bearing, outside of the pot. Then rotate the shaft a few times to work it in. That should loosen it up. Don't get any of the stuff on the insides, new pots don't need cleaner/lighter fluid//alcohol/oil/etc. in there. When I get stiff pots I put just a tiny bit of cleaner on the shaft, I like a little resistance on the twist.

[walterw]

...new pots don't need cleaner/lighter fluid//alcohol/oil/etc. in there...
unless you want them to turn easier.

i've been flushing new cts pots this way for a while now (thanks to discussions on this very forum, actually) with dramatic results and no ill effects. i spray a little cailube in there afterwards for insurance.

[Lex Luthier]

I usually pop the backs off and clean off that brown/red goopy grease they use, and put a dab of teflon grease instead. Probably is wise to leave something in there to lube the back of the wiper assembly where it rubs against the back of the can.

[5er Driver]

unless you want them to turn easier.

i've been flushing new cts pots this way for a while now (thanks to discussions on this very forum, actually) with dramatic results and no ill effects. i spray a little cailube in there afterwards for insurance.

Of the 3 CTS pots I bought from RS Guitarworks to upgrade my '83 Squier Strat (the old pots were toast), the 2 tones didn't need any help but the volume did. It was a little too stiff for me so I thinned the grease on the shaft a bit with some cleaner. Being new and good quality pots, none of them needed a flushing. I would only douche the inside if one was noisy and/or old & dirty and really needed a cleaning. The residue from cleaners and lubes can, over time, attract dust & dirt on anything. The mixture tends to act like liquid sandpaper on a micro scale. Everyone's got their own method and no one's method is wrong.

[K-man]

On the opposite end, are there any ways to tighten pots that are too loose?