knob costs $700 to replace?

NO NO NO NO NO !!!!! DO NOT USE BRAKLEEN you will melt it! WD 40 in moderation should do you fine. If it is going to free up with a spray, that is what i would use.

 

We use a lot of cleaning products from American Polywater, which are great for industrial use in Motor Control Centers, and utility switchgear

For cleaning the shift joystick, I'd recommend their FD product. It's supposed to be safe on plastics, at least it has been on the industrial nylons that I've managed to overspray

Type FD&#174 Fast Drying Electrical Contact Cleaner -- A Powerful Aerosol with Quick Evaporation that Cleans Cables, Contacts, Circuit Boards, Controls, Relays, Switches, Electronic Equipment, Parts, Tools, and other Industrial Maintenance Items.

We've also had good luck with HF from CRC

CRC Industries Global Home

I'm leery of using any lubricant in electrical/electronic devices. They tend to attract dust from the environment and will usually cause further problems down the road. Utility switchgear or MCC relays that *do* require lubrication, I've had fair luck with this product from Stoner

Electrical Cleaner and Lubricant factory-direct from Stoner

Never use anything like carb or brake cleaner near automotive interior plastics.

 

i wouldnt use WD-40 either... its track record with plastics is not good.

look at dry graphite based lubes... (expensive but useful for a lot of things)

 

Don't use graphite to lubricate an electrical switch!

 

I don't see why not using WD-40.

It is mild enough to lub the stuck joints and won't do damage on the plastic. Just keep a Bounty (Paper towel) to wipe it clean after spraying.
And we are not talking about 'SOAKING' it with WD-40 here, just a light spray should do fine.

I have used WD-40 to unstuck certain plastic joints/switches and never have problem. (Again, wipe it clean after spray). So I'll still stand by my previous comments.

NO Brake Cleaner or thick lube.....those are not really for plastic electro-mechanical equipments.