Please Advise: Pre-Amp RIGHT channel OUT


For some reason the RIGHT channel went out on my
Pre-Amp tonight while listening to music.
The Volume control knob was at 9 O`Clock,
and NOT even at 1 watt per channel!
1. What caused this to happen tonight when I`ve been
listening to my pre-amp for at least 4-6 hours a day
for the last 3 weeks?
2. When I put FORCE DOWN on the volume knob,
to turn it up or down, the RIGHT channel COMES BACK!
When I put FORCE IN OR UP, on the volume knob,
THE RIGHT CHANNEL GOES OUT!
3. WHAT CAUSES THIS?
4. CAN some contact cleaner spray SOLVE this problem?
5. When I let go of the volume knob, AFTER pushing
DOWN on the knob, the RIGHT channel stays ON,
AND EQUAL VOLUME to the LEFT CHANNEL.
6. IS this a SERIOUS issue?
7. HOW much will it cost to fix this?
8. My pre-amp is from 1990. HOW much LONGER can I
expect this amp to last?

isellstuff
Gregm is right that it is probably a contact issue , but it seems to me that the solder joint at the volume pot rather than a dirty contact is more likely to be the cause. Of course, cleaning the volume pot is always a good idea w/an older unit.
In addition check cracked solder joints arround the volume controll internally.
We've probably posted together at the same time with Swampwalker basically meaning the same issue.
You guys hit it on the head. That is cleaning and solder joints on the pot itself. Should be a cheap fix, even if you have to take it in for repair. Sean
>
Sean- that's what i thought when I brought my 20 y.o. top of line Yammie pre in w/the same problem. $150 later, I got a cleaned but not repaired unit back!!! Yikes. Guess who lost me repair business? Too bad, they are only 2 miles from my house.