Radio speaker "pops" when I turn it on.

[Leif A.]

Re: Radio speaker "pops" when I turn it on.

Went to Radio Shack this am for some DEOXIT. I sprayed the shaft on the on/off side on my 63 gave it a few turns and the noise is gone from the speaker.

Thank You

Harry,
Did the same thing this afternoon. On the way home from a beautiful drive, I stopped at Radio Shack and bought some DEOXIT (they're proud of that stuff$$$). When I got home, I removed the on/off volume knob, the very thin washer, the tone knob and then aimed the attached nozzle at the shaft where it enters the radio. While small bursts of spray, I turned the knob back and forth to work the DEOXIT into the shaft. Took all of about 5 minutes (start to finish) and my crackling sounds are all gone. Ed, thanks for advising on this product.

https://www.radioshack.com/products/deoxit-d5s-6-spray-contact-cleaner-and-rejuvenator

[Harry S.]

Re: Radio speaker "pops" when I turn it on.

I must be lucky the Radio Shack be me is closing so the spray can was $5.99.

[Bob W.]

Re: Radio speaker "pops" when I turn it on.

Guys CRC also makes a electronic cleaner. QD ELECTRONIC CLEANER quick drying cleans and protects sensitive electronic equipment. So the can says.

Bob

[Gary R.]

Re: Radio speaker "pops" when I turn it on.

I know this is an older thread but I was interested in knowing how the radios are working not that you used the DEOXIT on it. I don't have the time to pull my radio back out since I seen to work on every corvette but my own. If this worked I'll give it a shot since my volume pot is the issue.
Thanks

[Domenic T.]

Re: Radio speaker "pops" when I turn it on.

I say you are missing a capacitor. They filter out that noise. Same noise as when you apply the brakes. My first guess is at the regulator.
Then, there might be a bad capacitor. That's what they do.

Dom

[Gary R.]

Re: Radio speaker "pops" when I turn it on.

Hi Dom
In my case I am pretty sure it's the original pot that is the problem. This radio was upgraded with a new electronic conversion board but they didn't touch the pot or they switched my good pot with another one - I don't know. It was one of the few things I ever subbed out on a vette and like all the other subbed out work I wasn't happy with what I got back- poor communication, I had to send it back 2 or 3 times and then it worked for a month or two and started cutting out. If I play with the switch by very slowly turning it on and creeping it then it will "catch" and work but if I turn the volume up too fast it cuts out completely. This is the only original part in the radio to my knowledge.

[Joe R.]

Re: Radio speaker "pops" when I turn it on.

I hesitate to enter this discussion but cleaning the on off switch will not stop the pop when the radio is turned on. It will stop the scratching sound heard when the volume is turned up and cleaning the switch contacts so the radio is powered up. It's good stuff! There are two variable resistors (carbon not wire wound) inside the volume/switch. One is the volume and another is the tone. After 50 plus years the lubricant gets a little hard and dry causing the problem of hearing the scratching along with it just plain wearing out.
Delco designers incorporated capacitors to stop or minimize the pop you hear when the radio is turned on. They are also 50 plus years old and tend not to work real well if at all.
The dead capacitors are the source of 99% of the noise you are hearing.
Most? good shops will test or replace these capacitors to stop this from happening.
If cleaning the switch stops the noise you will be among the 1%. Bet you don't make the cut!

JR

[Leif A.]

Re: Radio speaker "pops" when I turn it on.

I know this is an older thread but I was interested in knowing how the radios are working not that you used the DEOXIT on it. I don't have the time to pull my radio back out since I seen to work on every corvette but my own. If this worked I'll give it a shot since my volume pot is the issue.
Thanks

Gary,
To answer your question, in my case, the DEOXIT seems to be a temporary "fix". Removing the on/off knob and sundry little parts, spraying the shaft and twirling the shaft left and right to work the DEOXIT up the shaft temporarily eliminates the crackling while adjusting the volume. Over time the crackling returns, go thru the same process and it clears it up for awhile. I'm not in the mood to remove the radio and send it out to be refurbished at this point. The temporary fix is fine with me for now. As stated earlier, the crackling sounds are only heard during volume adjustment. Once arriving at a desired volume level, radio plays and sounds fine...for a 50 year old radio. In my case, a side pipe car, so kind of a non-issue anyway

[Gary R.]

Re: Radio speaker "pops" when I turn it on.

Thanks Leif for the feedback.

[Gary R.]

Re: Radio speaker "pops" when I turn it on.

To follow up on my question here.

I got a can of Deoxit and yesterday pulled the knob off the radio and sprayed a little in the stem of the radio. There is a small opening at the base but I really didn't think much got in it. It would be better to pull the radio and get at the pot that way BUT to my surprise after a minute of turning it on/off and spraying a little in a time it works great. I can turn the radio on and off now, have full volume, and I have to say I am very surprised. How long will it last? We'll see. I'll report back if it goes out soon or if it lasts into the Fall.

There was some overspray on the console that I wiped off but I didn't see any damage from it.

I ordered it off Amazon for $16 well worth it to me if I don't have to pull the radio.

[John L.]

Re: Radio speaker "pops" when I turn it on.

To all:
I had the same experience as Gary, bought the same product last year and got the same result. I was listening to this radio yesterday and the on/off vol control is still working perfectly. No boom/pop when I turn it on - no static when adjusting volume.

[John F.]

Re: Radio speaker "pops" when I turn it on.

Finally got around to using a couple shots of Deoxit. Radio temporarily works fine!

[Gary R.]

Re: Radio speaker "pops" when I turn it on.

Just over a week so far so good with mine too

[Gary R.]

Re: Radio speaker "pops" when I turn it on.

Update
I was out at a nice vette show today in Mystic Ct, great day but the radio went out again. I'll see if a couple of shots down the shaft will help again. Does anyone know if the volume pots were the same for the GM radios of the period? I have a 68 Buick radio sitting on the shelf and wonder if I can swap the pot? Thanks