Clean/repair a rotary encoder?

[Peabody]

I've got a little mechanical rotary encoder with one really bouncy switch, and I just wondered if it's possible to take it apart in the hope of fixing it.  It looks like you could bend the tabs back and open it up, but I don't want to run into tiny exploding springs or whatever, and be unable to get it back together.  I would just replace it, but can't find a match.  Anyway, is this a reasonable thing to attempt?  Does it ever work?

[xavier60]

Try getting some oil into it. There are all sorts of oils out there, some better than others for the job. And some specifically marketed for that application.
 I have been using PAO synthetic oil with good success for many years. The stuff I use is sold for use in auto aircon compressors. Synthetic oil for air compressors is usually PAO also.
 A pair of small capacitors(10nF) across the A and B switches can help also.

[xavier60]

Some products for contact lubrication purposes are PAO oil based,
 http://www.tecnolubeseal.it/applications/greases-electrical-contacts/?lang=en

[Mechatrommer]

oil into a rotary encoder seems like a bad advice... just open it up, clean and improvise, should be better than live with a dead encoder, you got nothing to lose.. ymmv..

[xavier60]

There is an earlier thread on the same topic, https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/alps-rotary-encoder-gone-crazy/

[Mechatrommer]

damned i always mixed up optical encoder with rotary encoder, this is my problem with threads with no pictures... oil can be one thing, but rotary encoders like mine dont have exploding spring, so its an easy dissassembly reassembly fix...
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/rigol-ds1052e-annual-service-(knob-problem)/msg75048/#msg75048

[Peabody]

Thanks for the comments.  I'll try to muster the courage to give it a go.