- Joined
- May 14, 2014
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- 2,347
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- Southwest Kootenays BC
- Tagline
- No such things as bad days, just bad moments
There is a niggling meter issue on my recently WOPLized 700B. Since it's a generic meter question, I am going to post on AK also but thought there is way more PL expertise here and someone may have encountered the same situation.
One of the VU meters stays in the rest position at low volume levels. If the pre-amp's volume is increased, the stronger signal dislodges the needle and the meter will operate. The other meter works fine and does register when the volume is low. I realize that low level listening is probably not something associated with a WOPL but it's one of the drawbacks to condo living.
I removed the meter and took the lens off to inspect for debris or something that would impede needle motion but found nothing. I discovered by gently blowing on the needle, it would come to rest just slightly above where it normally would. If I "blew" it a little harder, to the left, I could nudge it to where it should be at rest normally. When in this position, it takes a little harder gust to dislodge it and make it swing.
I am including photos of the mechanism, the proper rest position where it sticks and the slightly high rest position from where it will swing freely. The difference is not even the width of the minus symbol on the dB scale.
I am wondering if there is a recommended lubricant or cleaner I could use that will get the needle over this "hump" and if by looking at the mechanism, can anyone say if/where there is a point to apply lubrication/cleaner? And if so, what would be a suitable liquid that's thin enough not to impede meter operation or gum it up later? A thought was that I could use a hypodermic to apply something in a minute quantity. That method would work only if whatever I used had a low viscosity.
One of the VU meters stays in the rest position at low volume levels. If the pre-amp's volume is increased, the stronger signal dislodges the needle and the meter will operate. The other meter works fine and does register when the volume is low. I realize that low level listening is probably not something associated with a WOPL but it's one of the drawbacks to condo living.
I removed the meter and took the lens off to inspect for debris or something that would impede needle motion but found nothing. I discovered by gently blowing on the needle, it would come to rest just slightly above where it normally would. If I "blew" it a little harder, to the left, I could nudge it to where it should be at rest normally. When in this position, it takes a little harder gust to dislodge it and make it swing.
I am including photos of the mechanism, the proper rest position where it sticks and the slightly high rest position from where it will swing freely. The difference is not even the width of the minus symbol on the dB scale.
I am wondering if there is a recommended lubricant or cleaner I could use that will get the needle over this "hump" and if by looking at the mechanism, can anyone say if/where there is a point to apply lubrication/cleaner? And if so, what would be a suitable liquid that's thin enough not to impede meter operation or gum it up later? A thought was that I could use a hypodermic to apply something in a minute quantity. That method would work only if whatever I used had a low viscosity.
