It was the brushes that went. I too was incredulous when it happened
but it did. Dont know why. It was only a cheap motor that powered a toy.
Maby that is a clue. They LOOKED like regular carbon brushes but maby they
were not; although if they were not I cannot think of what material it may
have been.
    I know what you mean about some of these things disolving plastics. As
far as I know the plastic disolvers are usually labeled "ELECTRIC" cleaner
as opposed to "ELECTRONIC".
     I am probably being overly paranoid in wanting the EXACT brand he used
on his AFM but I figure if I get his and it screws things up I will have
someone to cuss besides myself. That always makes me feel better. ( -;

----- Original Message -----
From: David Beierl <synergx@ibm.net>
To: Joe L. <jliasse@TOAST.NET>
Cc: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, April 29, 1999 5:08 PM
Subject: Re: QUICK CLEAN ... AFM

> At 16:16 4/29/99 -0400, Joe L. wrote:
> >
> >      I had considered doing that but did not due to an expierence I had
a few
> > years ago. I sprayed electronic cleaner on some brushes on a electric
motor.
> > The brushes desolved!!!
> >    That you got away with it indicates that all electronic cleaners are
not
> > created equally. What brand did you use?
>
>
> Joe, *Electronic* contact cleaner (used to) contain(s) one of the
> lower-vapor-pressure Freons, often with some silicone lube.  Dunno exactly
what
> the solvent is now, but it's not generally harmful to plastics.
*Industrial*
> contact cleaner, OTOH, also contains something like methyl chloride which
gives
> it more bite -- and melts plastic.  Check the labeling on the can for
warnings,
> or buy Radio Shack brand which is safe for plastics.
>
> I'm scratching my head over one thing -- brushes are ordinarily made of
carbon,
> which is pretty much insoluble in everything.  Was it the brushes
themselves
> that went away, or a plastic housing?
>
> david
> David Beierl - dbeierl@ibm.net