Loose Pot

[Rockyrollercat]

I've got a small Laney combo and the pre amp volume knob was scratchy when you turn it. I took the chassis out and sprayed some deoxit in there and it solved the problem but the knob has no resistance when I turn it. If the wind blows that knob will spin. Is there a way to tighten it up?

Thanks,
RRC

 

[TimmyP]

With a few I've encountered, tightening the nut will do it. (It shouldn't, but it does.) Otherwise, I have no idea.

 

[hank57]

when pots are new they have some type of grease in them for lubrication-ironically it provides some resistance to turning as well..spraying deoxit it washes a lot of it away so they turn very easily. I'm sure you could inject some grease into the pot with a hypodermic needle to make it feel new again. I'm just not sure if you'd want to get grease on the wiper or the resistance path, and I also don't know what type of grease is used during manufacture...shouldn't be too hard to find out, thought. Or, just experiment-pots are cheap!

Don't follow advice like this if it isn't tested. This is electronic equipment, don't do what this guy is suggesting if he has know idea what'll happen.

 

[SatelliteAmps]

Pull the knob, and try spinning the pot. If there is resistance, then you just need to tighten the knob.

DO NOT INJECT ANYTHING INTO THE POT. Putting "grease" into a pot will destroy it. That was bad advice. Some pots do have a dialectric grease (not all), but it isn't something that people just inject into a pot. If you want, you can get a form of DeOxIt with a lubricant in it, but that is not what is happening here. This is either a loose knob (most likely), or a broken pot (possible). Neither one would any form of lubricant help.

 

[Winnie Thomas]

I agree about not injecting anything into the pot. Here's my thoughts: Take the knob off and see if that's the problem by turning the shaft. If it's still very loose, get an "O" ring a little larger than the shaft. Put the knob back on and push it or tighten it up against the "O" ring so that there's some resistance .

Winnie

 

[xtian]

DeOxIt makes a fader lube for this purpose.

The O-ring is a great idea, too!

 

[Kyle B]

Oh - I thought this thread was gonna be about the crumbs left over at the bottom of your stash box....

 

[TimmyP]

This is either a loose knob (most likely), or a broken pot (possible).

Nope. Had one a week or so ago. It had a decent feel, but was scratchy. I cleaned it and it was noise free, but also friction free. Some factories apparently use goo to add resistance to rotation for a 'normal' feel. Some vintage Fender pots wear in well and have unusually low resistance to rotation.

 

[Rockyrollercat]

The pot works fine and the knob is on good it just spins easy, I worry that the internal connection is too light so it might go south at a gig. Is there a way to take it apart and tension it?

 

[Chris Scott]

The pot works fine and the knob is on good it just spins easy, I worry that the internal connection is too light so it might go south at a gig. Is there a way to take it apart and tension it?

Even the cheapest pots made seldom (if ever) fail due to the wiper not connecting, but if you're concerned about it that much, I'd say just replace the pot.

Cheap piece of mind...

 

[hank57]

I've heard strat users doing the O ring because they hit the vol making move. Good idea

 

[Chris Scott]

I've heard strat users doing the O ring because they hit the vol making move. Good idea

I was thinkin' the same thing.