Cleaning valve sockets

[philiphifi]

hi - does anyone know the correct way to clean valve sockets? my audion silver knight (Mark I) seems to suffer from microphonics and i often have to wiggle the valves around for it stop. Haven't clean it at all

thank you very much

Philip

 

[Arkless Electronics]

Microphonics has nothing to do with dirty valve sockets! It's the valves themselves. Fitting and removing the valves several times will usually clean the valve pins/socket contacts. They don't need to come all the way out just up and down half a dozen times.

 

[chartz]

FYI, microphonics are something else: either the valves themselves produce it, sometimes popping noises due to the elements inside not being temperature-stable (bad manufacture, loose plates and heaters, etc), sometimes an unwanted whistle (not heard in the speakers), and feedback from the outside world.
Just tap the low-signal valves gently with the tip if your fingernail to hear what it is.

Crackling noises can, as Jez says, be caused by bad contacts. I like to replace the offending valve sockets with new staetite ones, when they are too oxidized.
Otherwise I use ISP-dipped toothpicks to clean the contacts within the sockets (a few rotations should be enough).
Also look for any dry solder joints if it's a PCB-mounted socket.

 

[Tony L]

For cleaning good fat interdental brushes and Deoxit D5 works a treat. Clean the pins with Deoxit too. Job done. I realise it is expensive stuff, but it is the best and the can will last you for years and years, maybe a lifetime. Safe to use on crackly pots, faders etc too.

PS Microphonics is indeed something else, but this answers the thread question perfectly!

 

[chartz]

Good tip, the interdental brushes! Deoxit yes of course we techs all have that, perhaps not Philip!

 

[ToTo Man]

DeOxit was the first DIY hifi maintenance product I ever bought. Well worth the investment regardless of its price, unless you plan on drinking it. It lasts a long time if you're sensible with the application, - I've used just two cans of D5 in 10 years!

 

[Arkless Electronics]

I have a few interdental brushes for just that but in 9 out of ten cases just pushing and pulling the valves in and out of socket a few times does the trick.