cleaning corroded connectors?

[imadoofus]

how do i go about cleaning corrded connectors?
IS a good spray of wd40 enough? or should i scrub off with baking soda or some other electrical cleaner?

thanks

[lilredmachine]

Normally a good spray of WD40 (Water displacement-40) is ok, however if they are actually dirty you may wish to scrub them with something, maybe just a cloth.
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Bikes: too many, too much for one man to maintain anyway.

[Nath]

I would use a wirebrush or sandpaper/wetndry to get through the top layer of metal... Alternativly you could use a file, or infact anything metal to scratch the top layer off; Pliars would do, or even a screwdriver.

This is the way my dad has always cleaned electrical connectors and it makes perfect sense to me. You want fresh shiny metal to get the best connection, and the only way you'll get that on very old and mucky/corroded connectors is by removing the top layer of metal
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Hard livin', hard luck.

[mchaggis]

It's not even metal anymore anyway. It'll be copper/ aluminium oxide. Al. oxide isn't too bad, but copper/ iron oxide are not great at conducting at all.

Electrical connectors aren't expensive anyway, so get new ones if you need to. Like Nath said, almost anything abrasive will work fine, and you want the best connection you can get.
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Discovering the delights of Hammerite and a 3/4" brush.

[bish777]

when reassembling a liberal coating of coppergrease helps.
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GSXR1100J

[Guest]

We use these at work - a sort of pen with glass-fibre bristles. Available from RS

https://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/images/ha/hama-battery-contact-cleaning-pen-5629.jpg

[Villers]

Yeah just dont get the bristles on your fingers or arms!!

We used to clean up big electrical motors and used bigger versions of these brushes along with a solvent that was designed for the purpose. We used one called Lecsol, that was banned in its original incarnation because it was heavily carciagenic , but is available in a friendlier version now! Its strong stuff and will dissolve a piece of plastic over night and lift paint off floors so be careful.

We thought we could use WD40 to clean contacts too, until we came accross a dodgy set of shitty relays controlling an evacuation system on plant and after 3 hours of swapping relays it didnt do shit when we sprayed them with water dispersable number four-oh!
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'You came on your own, thats how you'll leave'

[stinkwheel]

I always used to nick one of my Mums emery boards that she used to file her nails with for cleaning terminals (and filing points). 50p per half dozen at the chemists (drug store).
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
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[Guest]