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Dash Knobs finish disintegrating and sticky

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Old Dec 11, 2014 | 11:15 AM
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Default Dash ***** finish disintegrating and sticky

The ***** on my 72 radio are gooey and sticky with a slippery, rubbery texture. Some stuff comes off on my hands.

I have a similar problem on console parts in my '93.

What chemicals clean this stuff up and renew the "feel"?

Thanks

Jack
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Old Dec 11, 2014 | 11:31 AM
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Try simple green, is this a factory radio? Did you or a prior owner perhaps use something not intended for plastic?

http://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/...w&gclsrc=aw.ds
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Old Dec 11, 2014 | 11:40 AM
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Hi,
The 70-71 radio ***** are hard black plastic and chrome.
The 72 ***** changed to a grained black vinyl with a black plastic insert with a white printed symbol.
The vinyl does degrade over the years especially on a car that's been smoked in.
The surface of the steering wheel, and the roof panel trim on coupes, often gets sticky too.
I'd clean them and apply something like spray 'Pledge' to try to seal the stickiness.
Regards,
Alan

Last edited by Alan 71; Dec 11, 2014 at 11:43 AM.
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Old Dec 11, 2014 | 11:57 AM
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Another reason not to smoke! Never would have thought of that.
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Old Dec 11, 2014 | 12:17 PM
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Car and radio are all original, but has been laid up for a while. Interior of the windshield has that cloudy deposit - from vinyl gassing, I assume - but that cleaned up with windex. I plan to armor-all the rest of the vinyl and coat the leather seats with dressing. Windex did not work on the *****, so ammonia is not the answer.

I'll try the simple green - thanks for the tip.

I never smoked, so it is not tar/nicotine related!

Jack
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Old Dec 11, 2014 | 12:40 PM
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&0 Olds's sprt steering wheels do the same thing.
If SG doesn't do it WD40 will. You'll have to clean them about 2-3 times a year
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Old Dec 13, 2014 | 02:34 PM
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cant help but recall the first vette i looked at was a family relatives in pittsburgh back in '07. the '73 was buried in a garage under a ton of stuff up to the ceiling and hadn't been moved in 30 yrs. When it was finally uncovered I got into the interior and was wondering about the oily, sticky brown substance covering everything? I figured since the guy smoked and died of lung cancer, this was 30 yrs of tar and nicotine.
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