Help, Balance doesnt work, No sound in one speak

[tp]

Hi All,

This may sound silly to some of you, but I have a Harmon Kardon stereo reciever from around 1991. Model # HK3400 stereo reciever.

The right speak doesnt have sound, if i jiggle and move around the balance knob, it gets static and at times starts to get the sound and volume it should but never lasts. I hardly ever used this reciever and hope it's just a simple thing.
Can anyone advise me what it could be and how to fix it?


Thanks
Tim

[blackraven]

Sounds like oxidation of the balance knob.. Take it apart, and buy some tuner cleaner from radio shack and clean the contacts on the knobs. Its a common problem on older stereo gear. I have a vintage 1976 integrated amp that I need to clean once a year or so.

[dakatabg]

It may sound funny but I had this problem with the volume knob and I cleaned it with hand sanitizer! It is still working great i never had any problems after that!

[dannotubes]

Find Deoxit instead of the Radio Shack type sprays. They leave a guuey residue, where Dexoit is a red colored spray which after a few turns actually starts to cleans the carbon traces and wiper.

[Jim Eck]

A second for DeOxit.

Jim

[harley .guy07]

I have heard that Deoxit is pretty good stuff. I have a friend in Witchita that plays around with vintage gear all the time and he talks about this stuff all the time. Hell I think he would put it on his pan cakes if his wife would let him. But anyway this kind of service is par for the course with vintage stuff. Anything thats a moving part is going to need TLC at some point and balance,volume, and tone controls are usually the ones that are the first to need it. My only addition to what has allready been said is that if you are going to take the time to clean the balance control you might as well clean every moving switch and control on this unit. You might have a much longer life out of this unit doing so.

[Jim Eck]

Do not however use anything but air or light brush on the tuning gangs in a tuner or receiver.

Jim

[tp]

Alright, all sounds good to me, Where can I buy Deoxit? Is there a store I can go pick it up at? Or do I have to order it online?

Thanks everyone
Tim

[audio amateur]

I should probably get some myself seeing that I'm getting into old gear. Can you get it outside the US?

[Jim Eck]

I have talked to people on other boards in Portugal and Spain and they are able to get it on eBay. The Faderlube will give the controls the silky feel again after being cleaned with DeOxit 5.

Jim

[audio amateur]

Cool thanks

[harley .guy07]

I am not sure where my friend gets it but I am sure you could google it and find somewhere either online or in your area that has it.

[dannotubes]

http://www.partsconnexion.com/cleaners_caig.html
They are located just outside of Toronto.
You could check with the other parts suppliers also.
I deal with them and tubestore in Hamilton.

[Auricauricle]

I trust you have turned the balance knob back the other way...right?