The Becker Radio Buttons on many of their radios start to become sticky after some time.  This is due to the deterioration of the rubber material.  We have heard from different sources that sunscreen lotion attacks this material and helps it to degrade.

If you want to solve this problem, you have three choices (in order of cost):

A.- Replace your radio with an aftermarket unit (a bit radical and costly - $300 - $1000)

B.- Send Becker $30.00 plus S&H for two new knobs (and wait a week or so)

C.- Do It Yourself for under $6.00 and in less than 30 minutes!  (this would be the logical choice).

Stuff you’ll need:

Mineral Spirits, Naphta or other mild petroleum solvent-cleaner

Small wooden dowell or skewer (you can substitute even with pick-up-stix) about 1/8” in diameter

A pair of pliers

Vise or vise grips

A can of PLASTI DIP (found at any Home Improvement Center - Paint Dept).

Start by removing the knobs.  They’re very easy to pull or pry off.

Using some petroleum-based solvent such as Naphta

or Mineral Spirits and a rag, wipe the knob as best as

you can. 

The idea here is to remove some of the sticky

feel to the knob. 

It doesn’t have to be perfectly smooth

but make sure it’s clean.

Now, take the small wooden dowel or skewer or

substitute and break it in two pieces.

Using the pliers crimp the tip of each of the

skewers/dowels so that they fit into the back

of the radio buttons.

Now, open your can of PLASTI DIP and stir

according to the recommendations.

                                                                           Take one of the “lollipops” and dunk into the

                                                                           PLASTI DIP material slowly.

                                                                           Don’t submerge completely.  Just to the edge of

                                                                           the back side.

                                                                           Let it sit immersed for a couple of seconds and

                                                                           pull out slowly.

                                                                          

                                                                           .

           

Let it drip for a few seconds until you see the

final drop just cling.

At that point turn the “lollipop” upside down

and place on a vise grip vertically to dry.

Let them cure overnight.

Then, just replace on your radio and enjoy!

I also found some other cool applications for PLASTI DIP.

Take your wheel bolt wrench and tape off the socket.

Now dip the tip into PLASTI DIP.

After it has dried a few minutes repeat a few times to

give the coating some body.

Now you’ll have a wrench that won’t scratch your wheels!

Happy Boxstering,

Pedro