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Return to top of page · Post #: 1 · Written at 1:04:07 AM on 2 June 2020.
	Robbbert Location: Hill Top, NSW Member since 18 September 2015 Member #: 1801 Postcount: 2065
Well, finally an incandescent globe blew today. It's been a long, long time. I replaced it (60W) with a 6W look-a-like. Less surprising is that my bedroom LED alarm clock started playing up. For a while it said 12:00 without advancing, until it occurred to me that it might be showing the alarm time instead of the real time. Now, it shouldn't be possible for the alarm time to show unless you're holding down buttons to set it. So I idly flicked the alarm on/off switch to ON, and suddenly the time was showing. Fixed? Not really. The alarm would ring at the set time, so I decided it was probably a blown diode and I'd have to attempt repair. Upon opening it, the probable cause was immediately noticed - brown glue. After scraping this off, the clock was fixed, and I could turn the alarm OFF. So, 3 things to watch out in gear made in the last 35 or so years - electrolytic capacitors, dry joints, and brown glue.

Return to top of page · Post #: 2 · Written at 2:23:51 AM on 2 June 2020.
	GTC Location: Sydney, NSW Member since 28 January 2011 Member #: 823 Postcount: 6747
brown glue. That's possibly what is also known as Sony/Sansui goop -- which over time becomes both corrosive and conductive causing havoc on PCBs. Acteone usually returns it to a gum state and helps remove it, but be very careful as acetone will destroy many substances from paint to plastic. If you can't get the component off the board first, then chipping away with a dentist's pick is the go.

Return to top of page · Post #: 3 · Written at 8:12:33 AM on 2 June 2020.
	Johnny Location: Hobart, TAS Member since 31 July 2016 Member #: 1959 Postcount: 561
Technical term ——“Gorilla Snot”. JJ

Return to top of page · Post #: 4 · Written at 11:26:36 AM on 2 June 2020.
	Irext Location: Werribee South, VIC Member since 30 September 2016 Member #: 1981 Postcount: 485
I used to find the dreaded brown goo in various brands of VCR's back in the 80's and 90's. It appears to become porous and absorb moisture. It affects high impedance circuits (such as VCR servo's) but usually comes away in lumps with a small screwdriver.

Return to top of page · Post #: 5 · Written at 3:31:51 PM on 2 June 2020.
	Brad Administrator Location: Naremburn, NSW Member since 15 November 2005 Member #: 1 Postcount: 7373
I know contact cement as gorilla snot, although it also has a non-G-rated nickname. ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾ A valve a day keeps the transistor away...

Return to top of page · Post #: 6 · Written at 7:30:54 PM on 2 June 2020.
	Jimb Location: Kanahooka, NSW Member since 18 November 2016 Member #: 2012 Postcount: 712
Yes Sony broadcast equipment was full of it.

Return to top of page · Post #: 7 · Written at 8:51:14 PM on 2 June 2020.
	Robbbert Location: Hill Top, NSW Member since 18 September 2015 Member #: 1801 Postcount: 2065
Seems I was mistaken. After bringing the clock back and switching on, it worked fine. But an hour later it was displaying 12:00 again. So I took the quick way out, by opening it and cutting one of the wires to the beeper, putting it back together and switched the alarm ON.

Return to top of page · Post #: 8 · Written at 10:10:46 PM on 2 June 2020.
	Marcc Location: Wangaratta, VIC Member since 21 February 2009 Member #: 438 Postcount: 5348
Yaesu 7700 has a bit of that in it.

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