There is an issue with the record switch on my JVC RC-656 LD II. Sometimes records work fine, sometime there is no signal on the tape after recording. With a friend we tested the electronics, measure TPs - and there is no fault - so we found, that the general problem is the record switch ( photo ) - the contacts seem to be dirty or / and oxidized. I have tried to clean with Deoxy, Isopropanol and lighter fuel, because the switch is a little bit difficult to move, and it needs a longer time to slide back in normal postion. Everytime i use the cleaning liquids or spray the switch works fine, slides fast back, but when i wait some hours i have the same situation like before -it becomes harder to move and slides back slowly. Has somebody a tipp for solution ? Thanx anyway.
Many of my recent boombox restorations have required removal and disassembly of these slide switches in order to clean and/or fix the internals. It's not terribly difficult to do - and it does provide opportunities to temporarily hardwire for testing functions! - BUT when you have it in pieces and discover that parts are damaged, it gets dispiriting. Sometimes you might find parts for sale on eBay or similar, and as a matter of course I keep all components like this when I am faced with scrapping decks and boomboxes. Sorry this is not 100% helpful. In your case you may be lucky e.g. if it's hardened lubricant that's temporarily freed with deoxit etc., this can be fixed permanently with careful removal, disassembly, cleaning, lubing, reassembly, and refitting. Just be really careful you don't damage the little copper contacts inside as these work best when left in their original shapes. And take plenty of pix as you do it. Best of luck.
From my little experience, I have never been able to clean any switch with any spray, liquids... The only way to clean them that has always worked for me is to unsolder the switch from the board, take it apart and clean it. If it is just dirty (black, oxidized) it is perfect and I clean it with a hard brush and alcohol, if it is not completely cleaned I also use an eraser (for erasing pencil from paper but it should be harder) and in extreme cases a very fine sandpaper 40000-50000. Sometimes some contacts are melted, broken. Then the problem is more complicated. If I can find an identical switch it is good otherwise I look if the switch does not have a free-unused contact and by soldering wires in parallel (the burnt contacts with the unused ones). If there are no unused contacts then the problem is more complicated and I insert a relay to a used and good contact (the relay will work for 2 contacts). Generally it takes patience and imagination
Thanx very much for the information to both. I don`t have the equipment to solder out the switch, only a soldering iron for more inaccurate work, especially no desoldering pump. And i`m without any skills to do. I hoped for a solution to clean it with a special liquid. I will give it to somebody, who has. I thought about getting the repairing stuff, but at the end it`s no rational for only one device. Just at the moment it`s working OK, but there is no guarantee.
