[Snapper]

I just noticed your post - sorry nobody here at AK has responded yet. We normally are very good about helping 1st time posters.

I'm not an expert but I have repaired and refurbished my share of radios and I have the Sony ICF-9650W - which sounds very nice when cleaned.

Before you think about replacing the pot, get a can of DeoxIT contact cleaner, which is probably the best spray cleaner for precision electrical parts. Or, you can go to Home Depot and get a can of CRC QD Contact Cleaner, which is much cheaper than the DeoxIT and a little easier to find.

Here's what you do:

UNPLUG the radio first!

Find an access hole in the volume pot (you will have to open up the back of the radio and locate the back side of the volume pot) and give the inside of the pot a good shot of cleaner using the red tube supplied with the can. Then rotate the volume knob back and forth for awhile - longer is better. This allows the cleaner to remove the deposits that have accumulated on the contacts over the years (which prevent the pot from working as it should). It also allows the cleaner to dry.

Be careful if you use CRC, because the CRC is very flammable (most types of DeoxIT are not flammable). Never try to clean your radio while it is plugged in and only plug it in and turn it on when you are sure the cleaner has evaporated. If there is still static, unplug the radio and repeat the spray cleaning and knob rotating.

I hope this helps. In almost all cases, you will not need to replace your pot - a good cleaning with contact cleaner usually solves the problem.

David