old osscilloscope

[ethhanners]

I have an old analog oscilloscope that is still surprisingly almost in spec. I am wondering if it would be a good idea to open it up and clean out the internal dust to clean it. Would this be recommended or should I just leave it?

[radiomog]

clean it. helps keep the temps down.

disconnect from mains first

[ethhanners]

thank you I  had been told by some that I could break solder connections -thank you

[radiomog]

just how do you intend to clean it?

just blowing it out with air or ?

let it cool down to room temp first

[devanno]

If you blow it out with air, and if there's a muffin fan for cooling, before blowing on the fan, hold the blade still with your finger.  Easy to overspeed these fans with a blast of compressed air, and they often die after that due to the stress on the bearings... at least that's been my experience working on PCs. 

[tggzzz]

clean it. helps keep the temps down.

disconnect from mains first

And leave disconnected for several hours, to ensure any capactors near the CRT have completely discharged. Think "dielectric soakage", and be wary

[tautech]

I have an old analog oscilloscope that is still surprisingly almost in spec. I am wondering if it would be a good idea to open it up and clean out the internal dust to clean it. Would this be recommended or should I just leave it?

Have a look inside and if it's clean...leave it. 

[lapm]

Personally at home i just use can of compressed air out at balkony... Dont want that dust cloud anywhere inside...

Cleaning old instrument from dust shuld be ok as long as you dont use vacuum cleaner for it and just stick that tube everywhere... Vacuum cleaners generate some nasty esd braking voltages easily...