Presto Control Master

[dalangdon]

Hi There,

I have a Presto Control Master with timer. (somewhat rare and visually spectacular, if one is into that sort of thing)

Recently the thermostatic control dial has become very hard to move. Is there a way to clean the innards, or does that just happen when these controls start to fail?

 

[polkanut]

I would try a small shot of WD-40 or something similar for starters.  It may need a thorough cleaning first though.

 

[combo52]

Nice Presto Cooking Equipment

Hi Dan, The control knob fits very closely to the control body and sticky food soil gets under the edge of the knob and these get very hard to turn.

 

After seeing your post it reminded me I have one of these controls that early turns, I sprayed it with 409 type cleaner and after a few minutes held it by the cord and poured boiling water over it then took a tooth brush and cleaned it and poured more boiling water over and dried and it works great.

 

[ just don't immerse in water of poor into the open holes ]

 

I have a lot of Presto equipment [ mostly electric pressure cookers that use these controls ] I love the cool timer you have I do not have one of those,  Do you have any other Presto stuff ? 

 

John L.

 

[gizmo]

There are "contact cleaner and lube" products that are much better than WD40 for this sort of thing.

https://www.jaycar.com.au/contact-cleaner-lubricant-spray-can/p/NA1012
If you can, pry the knob off, then apply contact cleaner/lube around the shaft.

Allow it to seep in and do its magic for 24 hours before plugging in.

the product linked above is from an Australian supplier, but there will surely be similar products in USA.

 

INOX MX3 is possibly also suitable, it is available in USA, distributed by

Candan Industries USA LLC

Green Cove Springs, FL, USA.

Inox is a spray lube like WD40, but I think it is a much better product. doesn't dry to a sticky residue like WD40 tends to do.

I always have a can of the stuff, it is magic.

 

https://www.inoxmx.com/products/mx3-lubricant/

 

[dalangdon]

Thanks! I'm glad to know it's fixable.

John, I have two avocado Presto Electric Pressure cookers (one branded as Sears), two of those yellow electric skillets like the one in the picture, and two larger avocado electric skillets with that same pattern on the lid. I used to have the countertop oven, but that thing is mean

 

[tomturbomatic]

Beautiful Presto piece. For a while, the pressure cookers had the same decoration on the lid.  I found one of the timers years ago. It is packed away somewhere. Beautiful piece of Dansk Kobenstyle in the background.  

 

[dalangdon]

I was able to pry the knob up a bit (didn't want to force it too much since it's old) and got some cleaner in there. It works much better now! Although I'm a little worried that if it heats up again it might get stubborn again. In that case, I'll bite the bullet and take the knob off.

 

[polkanut]

You might want to try some of this.  A lot of mechanics swear by this stuff.

 

Permatex Electrical/Contact Cleaner 82588 | O'Reilly Auto Parts

 

[combo52]

The knob does not come off easily I think it will break the control, you’re going to be better off just to clean it with some boiling water or get some lubricant under the edge, it generally won’t get sticky when it gets hot it does the opposite when it gets cool.