Batboard

Does anyone know the preffered method of cleaning the battery contacts on a GP300. I purchased a used one that came with a battery attatched to it and apparently both radio and battery were sitting for a long time as some of the battery acid has leaked out of the battery and onto the battery contacts of the GP300 giving them sort of a rusted look which prevents proper connection. Anyone have any experience with cleaning these contacts? What works best? Thanks in advance.

Joe
N6LAU

pencil eraser.. It its too bad a fine piece of sandpaper.. But as a last resort.

Use both ends of a #2 pencil - the lead to help scrape and lube the contacts, the eraser as a mild abrasive. Swab a little wd40 on afterwards. You may get to learn how to change the housing.

An even better contact polisher - one that is less abrasive than a pencil eraser (and thus less likely to remove any plating) while being good at removing oxidization is Ye Olde Federal Reserve Note - take a dollar bill and use that.

Anyone have any experience with cleaning these contacts? What works best?

Replacing the contacts. I've never had any long term success with any of the "cleaning" methods I've tried. Remove the radio from the front case, remove the PWB from the rear cover (Mot. calls it the chassis) The old contacts can then be unsoldered from the small board (+) and the chassis (-). Recommend a 250 watt plus iron/gun for the neg. contact, but just use a 60 watt iron for the pos. one. Order the new contacts first; by inspecting the new contacts, you will be able to see how to remove the old ones from the two mounting holes Clean the pads of all old solder, put a moderate amount of solder paste on the cleaned pads, insert the new contacts and apply the solder gun/iron to the new contacts with the tip thoroughly cleaned of old solder. Since you don't have solder on the iron tip to aid conduction of heat to the contacts and mount pads, it will take a bit longer than usual to transfer heat to melt the paste. Don't panic, just watch the junction carefully and remove heat when the paste has had time to flow properly. Clean the flux from around the contacts and reassemble the radio after the chassis has cooled. Contacts are relatively inexpensive (last time I checked) and you will now have a reliable connection.
Tom DGN

Caution Be very careful when you remove the chassis/board assy. from the front cover. There is a short wire that plugs into the side of the board that connects the speaker and mic. in the front cover to the radio. Lift the chassis/board assy. out of the case slowly, bottom end first until you can reach that plug and unplug it before trying to remove the entire radio from the case.

A wire wheel brush on a rotary tool.

Frank

Fiberglass pen brush...best thing I have ever used to clean contacts by far. You do have to be somewhat careful on gold plated contacts, a light touch is best. Removes oxidation, corrosion, rust...you name it.

http://www.cooltools.us/Scratch-Brush-P ... rn-207.htm

An even better contact polisher - one that is less abrasive than a pencil eraser (and thus less likely to remove any plating) while being good at removing oxidization is Ye Olde Federal Reserve Note - take a dollar bill and use that.

Or, if you can afford it, use a $100 bill. I doesn't clean any better but it will sure impress your friends!

Thanks for all the replies. I was able to clean up the contacts without having to replace them. First I tried using a pink eraser with no sucess. Next I tried gently using a little bit of fine sandpaper and that did the trick. Thanks for the help.