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Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning

Introduction

Introduction

Has your gain or output knobs developed hissing, bad contact or noise when turning. Do the output has uneven channel levels?

Then you can try cleaning the potentiometers! Hiss, bad connection and noise when turning can be caused by debris and dust getting caught in the potentiometer housing.

This cleaning guide will work for any none sealed potentiometer!

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Guide Notes

This is a potential cheap fix. There is no guarantee that this will work.

If this does not work then it is likely that the potentiometer is worn out, and then it needs to be replaced!

Potentiometer Lubrication

Any special made potentiometer lubricant spray (e.g. Caig DeoxIT F5) or any pure silicon spray will work for lubricating the potentiometers.

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Warning

The factory resistant or "heavy feel" of turning the potentiometer will disappear if one uses excess electrical contact cleaner!

It is not uncommon for this "heavy feel" to disappear when cleaning the potentiometers, and then coming back in a little while, if all the lubricant were not washed away.

Always have the unit unplugged when working with electrical contact cleaners! The solvents (which evaporates) are electrically conductive!

What you need

  1. Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Getting Started: step 1, image 1 of 1

    • Remove all cables from the unit.

    Edit

  2. Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Remove the Knobs: step 2, image 1 of 3 Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Remove the Knobs: step 2, image 2 of 3 Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Remove the Knobs: step 2, image 3 of 3

    • Remove all three knobs on the front by pulling them straight out.

    • One may insert one or two iFixit picks underneath the knobs to pry them out.

    Edit

  3. Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Open the front cover: step 3, image 1 of 3 Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Open the front cover: step 3, image 2 of 3 Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Open the front cover: step 3, image 3 of 3

    • Turn the unit upside down.

    • Insert an iFixit pick in the ridge between the body and the front plate, start in front of the feet pads and work around the unit.

    • Carefully pry of the front plate.

    Edit

  4. Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Remove the washers: step 4, image 1 of 1

    • Use pliers to loosen the washers on the three potentiometer stems. The washers can then be unscrewed by hand.

    • Use pliers to loosen the washers on the two 6.3 mm jacks. The washers can then be unscrewed by hand.

    • Be careful not to hit the small lights to the right of each 6.3 mm jack when loosening the washers.

    Edit

  5. Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Unscrew screws: step 5, image 1 of 2 Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Unscrew screws: step 5, image 2 of 2

    • Unscrew all the screws fitted on the front plate, in the following order:

    • Use a PH1 screwdriver to remove the two PH1 screws securing the XLR jack.

    • Use a PH2 screwdriver to remove the remaining PH2 screws securing the front metal plate to the chassis.

    Edit

  7. Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Remove the front plate: step 6, image 1 of 3 Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Remove the front plate: step 6, image 2 of 3 Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Remove the front plate: step 6, image 3 of 3

    • The front plate should sit loose on the body without any screws holding it.

    • Remove the front metal plate.

    • One may slide an iFixit pick in the seam between the front metal plate and the metal chassis if the plate does not fall off and all screws are loosened.

    Edit

  8. Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Potentiometer types: step 7, image 1 of 1

    • There are three potentiometers on the front of the unit.

    • One stereo 20K ohm linear potentiometer (B20K).

    • Two mono 10K ohm logarithmic potentiometers (A20K).

    • See next step for the cleaning instructions per type of potentiometer.

    Edit

  9. Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Stereo potentiometer: step 8, image 1 of 3 Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Stereo potentiometer: step 8, image 2 of 3 Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Stereo potentiometer: step 8, image 3 of 3

    • To clean the stereo potentiometer, spray 2 to 3 sprays of electric cleaner in the following openings:

    • Spray electrical cleaner through both of the bottom openings between the wire contacts.

    • (Optional) Spray electrical cleaner through the "side window opening".

    • The "side window opening" is actually a stopper tab keeping the internal disks from spinning freely.

    • Rotate the potentiometer shaft back and forth 20 times.

    • Wait at least 15 minutes for all contact cleaner to evaporate before powering on the device!

    Edit

  10. Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Mono potentiometer: step 9, image 1 of 2 Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Mono potentiometer: step 9, image 2 of 2

    • To clean the mono potentiometer, spray 2 to 3 sprays of electric cleaner in the following openings:

    • Spray electrical cleaner through the bottom opening next to the wire contacts.

    • (Optional) Spray electrical cleaner through the "side window opening".

    • The "side window opening" is actually a stopper tab keeping the internal disks from spinning freely.

    • Rotate the potentiometer shaft back and forth 20 times.

    • Repeat for the other mono potentiometer if necessary.

    • Wait at least 15 minutes for all contact cleaner to evaporate before powering on the device!

    Edit

  11. Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Stereo Potentiometer Lubrication: step 10, image 1 of 2 Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Stereo Potentiometer Lubrication: step 10, image 2 of 2

    • This is an optional step.

    • To lubricate the stereo potentiometer, spray of 2 to 3 short sprays of potentiometer lubricant through both of the bottom openings between the wire contacts.

    • Rotate the potentiometer shaft back and forth 20 times.

    • Wait at least 15 minutes for all lubricant solvent to evaporate before powering on the device!

    Edit

  12. Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Mono Potentiometer Lubrication: step 11, image 1 of 2 Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Mono Potentiometer Lubrication: step 11, image 2 of 2

    • This is an optional step.

    • To lubricate the mono potentiometer, spray of 2 to 3 short sprays of potentiometer lubricant through the bottom opening next to the wire contacts.

    • Rotate the potentiometer shaft back and forth 20 times.

    • Repeat for the other mono potentiometer if necessary.

    • Wait at least 15 minutes for all lubricant solvent to evaporate before powering on the device!

    Edit

  13. Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Reattach the front plate potentiometers: step 12, image 1 of 3 Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Reattach the front plate potentiometers: step 12, image 2 of 3 Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Reattach the front plate potentiometers: step 12, image 3 of 3

    • Insert the three potentiometers into the front plate.

    • Each potentiometer has a small prong that is to be fitted through the front plate, either to the right or below the potentiometer stem.

    • Reattach and tighten the washers for the potentiometers.

    Edit

  14. Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Reattach the front plate: step 13, image 1 of 3 Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Reattach the front plate: step 13, image 2 of 3 Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Reattach the front plate: step 13, image 3 of 3

    • Reinsert and tighten all screws into the front plate, in the following order:

    • Reinsert and tighten all PH2 screws securing the front plate to the chassis.

    • Reinsert and tighten the two PH1 screws securing the XLR jack into the front plate.

    • Some force is needed to screw the two PH1 screws back into the XLR jack. Be cautious to not over tighten the screws!

    • Reattach and tighten the washers for the two 6.3 mm jacks.

    • Use pliers to make sure the washers for the potentiometers and the 6.3 mm jacks all are tight and secured.

    • Be careful not to hit the small lights to the right of each 6.3 mm jack when tightening the washers.

    Edit

  15. Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Reattach the front cover: step 14, image 1 of 2 Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Reattach the front cover: step 14, image 2 of 2

    • Reattach the plastic front cover by pressing it on. Put pressure on the sides, and work around the edges of the unit.

    Edit

  16. Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Reattach the knobs: step 15, image 1 of 3 Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Reattach the knobs: step 15, image 2 of 3 Avid Fast Track Solo Potentiometer Cleaning, Reattach the knobs: step 15, image 3 of 3

    • When attaching the knobs, leave a tiny gap, or press an iFixit pick between the base of the knob and the front cover of the unit. This is to ensure that the knobs does not scratch against the cover.

    • Attach all three knobs to the potentiometer stems by pressing them straight on. They are interchangeable and the knobs will only fit in one orientation on the stems.

    Edit
Conclusion

Wait at least 15 minutes for all contact cleaner to evaporate before powering on the device!

Done! You've now cleaned your units' potentiometers!

Author

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MeekVixen

Member since: 11/28/25

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