Anyone know a good way to "de-gunkify" CP buttons and sticks?

[Mattiekrome]

About 6 months ago I picked up a fully working 3 player cab, with every intention of stripping it down and rebuilding it into a MAME cab.  Unfortunately, due to time and space constraints, I have decided to sell it or maybe donate it to a church summer camp.  Only problem is, some of the buttons stick quite bad.  Does anyone out there have any quick hints on how to get these buttons/switches working like new again?  I wouldn't feel right selling or donating a game that only works "some of the time", but dont want to drop any $ on new buttons + switches.  Thanks 

[ChadTower]

Dishwasher.

[shardian]

Dishwasher.

Disassemble the buttons first though, and don't wash the microswitches.

[ChadTower]

I've never had an issue washing the microswitches.

[shardian]

I've never had an issue washing the microswitches.

There is no point to it. Besides, water can get into them and cause corrosion.

[Dmod]

Try "Goo Gone". 

You can find this at Lowe's, and I used it to successfully remove dried hot glue from the sides of an ice hockey table (don't ask) without damaging the table.

   

[ChadTower]

There is no point to it. Besides, water can get into them and cause corrosion.

A single instance of water isn't going to corrode them.  Corrosion is from the presence of water over time.  I've seen some switches that were barely working come back to life after being thrown in the dishwasher with the rest of the controls.  So long as you don't use a melty hot cycle, most things can be thrown in there.

[Mattiekrome]

Thanks for the input.  Looks like the problem isn't as much with the buttons sticking, but the microswitches.  I've already pulled most from the CP, so I am going to give the dishwasher a try. 

What about sticks?  Anything in there going to be sensitive to the dishwasher?  In "caveman" thinking, its just 4 microswitches and a metal rod, but I dont know for sure if its a good idea to chuck a whole stick in there 

[shardian]

Thanks for the input.  Looks like the problem isn't as much with the buttons sticking, but the microswitches.  I've already pulled most from the CP, so I am going to give the dishwasher a try. 

What about sticks?  Anything in there going to be sensitive to the dishwasher?  In "caveman" thinking, its just 4 microswitches and a metal rod, but I dont know for sure if its a good idea to chuck a whole stick in there 

Disassemble so everything gets cleaned. Dishwashing isn't really necessary for the joys, but if you don't feel like hand washing...

[ChadTower]

Yeah, I mostly suggest the dishwasher as a way to throw a bunch of stuff in at once.  I don't usually have enough time to hand wash everything in the sink and the dishwasher runs every night anyway.

[Crowquill]

I just hand wash them. It's not that hard and takes less time (but a bit more work) than the dishwasher. I'd definitely remove switches. I take the plunger out of the button and remove the springs too. I just disassembled and cleaned a joystick last night that had been the victim of a coke spill. I had to replace one of the switches that was too gunked up, but the stick now feels just like new.

Being so small, how do you guys contain them in the dishwasher so they don't get knocked around and fall through the baskets?

[shardian]

I just hand wash them. It's not that hard and takes less time (but a bit more work) than the dishwasher. I'd definitely remove switches. I take the plunger out of the button and remove the springs too. I just disassembled and cleaned a joystick last night that had been the victim of a coke spill. I had to replace one of the switches that was too gunked up, but the stick now feels just like new.

Being so small, how do you guys contain them in the dishwasher so they don't get knocked around and fall through the baskets?

I stuffed all of my buttons into the silverware drawers in mine. You can also get a baby bottle washer box at walmart for like $2 that works awesome. (don't tell my wife I recommended that one ).

[ChadTower]

My dishwasher has a lid for the silverware trays that you can put on for small parts.  Just make sure you don't use any of the hottest cycles - that tray is mostly designed for stainless steel objects that are not subject to heat issues.

[AcidArmitage]

toothbrush 'em

[Zebidee]

Tea tree oil cuts through this kind of crud with no trouble at all   Just daub a bit onto a cloth and wipe.  Follow up with a quick scrub using your favourite old toothbrush and some warm water + detergent.  Dry throughly before re-assembling.

Seriously, just last night I used tea tree oil to clean a set of disgustingly filthy buttons from an old cab.  At first I thought I had a terrible job ahead of me, but it turned out to be no problem at all with the tea-tree oil.

A bottle of tea-tree oil costs about $2 at the supermarket in Australia, maybe $4 elsewhere I guess.  Also makes a fantastic disinfectant and mosquito repellent.

[ChadTower]

Okay I've lived in various sections of both the US and Canada and I've never heard of tea tree oil.

[NightGod]

I've heard of it, it does a great job of getting rid of lice infections, too. Went through that a couple years back with the kids, it worked when everything else didn't. Pretty sure we picked it up at Wal-mart or Walgreens.

[bleargh]

Okay I've lived in various sections of both the US and Canada and I've never heard of tea tree oil.

"The Body Shop" carries a variety of things with Tea Tree Oil in them.  Facial cleansers, soaps, rinses.  My wife used it all the time when we lived in Vancouver.  Moved to the country and our well water is so soft that it just doesn't work anywhere near as good as it did in the city.

[ChadTower]

Ah, I never ever go in stores like that.  I'm allergic to most synthetic fragrances.  Stores like that make me miserable.

[Zebidee]

Tea-tree oil is an Australian product, from the Melaleuca trees.  Called "tea tree" because the oil would come out into the water of the surrounding billabongs and make it the colour of tea.

I buy it in the supermarket here, but US/Canadian people might have to go to a more specialised store.  It usually comes in a small bottle.  I found it in Bangkok in a "western" specialised supermarket.

[ChadTower]

Called "tea tree" because the oil would come out into the water of the surrounding billabongs and make it the colour of tea.

Ew.  Bong water.

[Zebidee]

Called "tea tree" because the oil would come out into the water of the surrounding billabongs and make it the colour of tea.

Ew.  Bong water.

No, billabongs.  Quite different, and I can't imagine bong-water oil being too popular.

Incidentally, tea-tree oil is brilliant for cleaning up bong crud too.  So someone told me 

[Mattiekrome]

Oh BTW, I never did post my results.  I did the dishwasher thing like Chadtower suggested, microswitches and all.  I must say it worked brilliantly.  The CP worked like new once I got it all back together.  Just FYI for any future searchers out there