My audio cassette deck has a panning knob (left/right), which I assume regulates the strength of the two channels of a stereo signal. When I turn the knob, there is a rustling sound and the sound is intermittent. I have to manually push the knob in some direction to have both channels make contact.

Is such a knob a simple potentiometer that I could replace? Or is there some sort of maintenance to be done on it? I have already used compressed air in various angles directed at the base of the part and at the small openings around knob itself.

Edit: description of the knob in question
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Edit: view of the PCB on which the “potentiometer” in question rests
sntTm351Qbmqf4N.png

    • Handles@leminal.spaceEnglish
      3·
      10 days ago

      Definitely this. Cleaning potentiometers, contacts, etc should be the first order if you have any noise in your stereo equipment. Replacing parts comes way down the list.

      Edited to add: DeOxit is the best known brand of contact cleaner, and people swear by it. It may well be the best on the market, I don’t know, but it’s also superexpensive because you pay for the brand.

      A little search for alternatives can easily halve the price, look for “no-brands” like CRC, TermoPasty or PRF…

        • Handles@leminal.spaceEnglish
          2·
          10 days ago

          Twist it as many times as you can, it’s all about getting the dirt out and distributing the lube 👍

          Give any other pots (volume, bass/treble, whatever you have) a good squirt too while you’re at it, to keep them in shape!