BCD436HP/BCD536HP: Cleaned the Function Knob, now odd display.

[ScanRite]

I opened my 536 up and sprayed around the Function Knob with DeoxIT D5. First time using this stuff. It's a bit oilier than other brands of contact cleaner I've used. Worked great on the knob, no more skipping. However, some of it got on the screen. The dark areas (I highlighted one in a red box) seems to have expanded from what it looked like last night.

For the life of me, I can't remember if it's supposed to be darker or lighter. Could someone post a pic of their screen? Not sure if it's getting better or worse. Radio works fine though.

Thanks,

 

[donc13]

NEVER use a contact cleaner with oil or any other kind of "lubricant" in it!

Never

 

[ScanRite]

NEVER use a contact cleaner with oil or any other kind of "lubricant" in it!

Never

I didn't know it was even remotely oily. I had read a few other threads about this stuff and said it was the best out there for pots. Kinda disappointed it had a bit. It cleaned the knob pot okay and seemed to dissipate. Last time I used a cleaner was stuff I bought at Radio Shack years ago. Figured it was the same type of stuff.

 

[Hit_Factor]

Hopefully it dissipates or evaporites.

Uniden has a flat rate service fee. If you can't live without the scanner, buy another one. Send the damaged one in for repair, upon return, sell it on the used market.

 

[Ubbe]

It's several LED's that light up the display and there's a plastic diffuser to spread the light evenly. The lubricant have found its way between the display and diffuser. I don't how difficult it is to take apart the display and clean out the oil. When i lubricated my 536 I just dropped contact cleaner in the cracks of the rotary controller, not spraying at full blast, being careful not to spill anything.

/Ubbe

 

[ScanRite]

Well over the last day it seems to be dissipating more. It's becoming more of the darker background color, which I believe is what it's supposed to be. It was super bright right after it happened, which isn't normal. For now, I'm just going to let it do its thing naturally. I've taken these screens apart before and it always seems like a nightmare getting them back together again.

 

[gary123]

The best solution is to disassemble the unit and clean the display. Use a absobent cloth like you would use for eye glasses. You do not want to scratch the LCD or plastic housing. Use rubbing alcohol or some of the HDTV screen cleaner available at stores (best choice) on the cloth and clean small sections at a time, frequently using a clean part of the cloth.

It is a possibility if you wait too long the LCD display may start to 'bond' with the oil and then you will have a permanent issue on your hands.

For anyone following the thread and wants to clean their selector knob. Use a non residue cleaner. Spray a small amount on the green part of the housing and rotate the know forward and backwards. The cleaner will flow between the cracks. Do this a few times while working all around the knobs rotation. For advanced users you can use a silicon lubricating cleaner BUT you have to literally apply it a drop at a time to avoid the issues discussed in this thread. NEVER NEVER use WD40. It is NOT an electronics cleaner or Lubricator. AS always VYA time.... do this at your own risk and pay attention to warrantees etc. NEVER disassemble anything unless you are competent to do it without damaging what your working on.

Pro TIp. If you can take pictures of every step. This way you can refer back to where all the parts came from. Also you could then make a nice .PDF detailing the process for others to use as a reference and share it here on RR.