MX winder battery leakage

I have just bought a Pentax MX camera with the MX winder. Unfortunately the previous owner forgot to remove the batteries inside the winder when he stopped using the equipment. The result is that there are battery deposits around the inner contacts in the winder

What is the best way to remove the battery deposits?

Is it possible to dismantle the winder to get to the inner battery contacts?


Any information on my problem is highly appreciated!

What type of battery was it?

Just found this after some searching on the web.
If they are alkaline batteries, it is potassium hydroxide (a base NOT an acid). So the best thing to clean it with is an acid (like vinegar or stop bath). But do not get water or water/acid into the device or you may have even more trouble.

The safest way is to use mechanical removal. I have used wooden sticks and glass fiber pens (get them from some camera stores or Radio Shack). Final cleanup with fine sandpaper or a pencil eraser depending on the condition.

I've used White Vinegar. Works a treat! Make sure you 'wash' the vinegar away when you've finished - I used cotton wool swabs and water.

If you can actually remove the affected parts from the winder, just leave them to soak in the vinegar; the battery deposits just dissolve away!

Another vote for White Vinegar.
I've even used it on computer motherboards.
If you can't reach the contact with a cotton bud, then try a small piece of cloth over the end of a pencil and held in place with masking tape.
After you have forgotten to remove the batteries once, you will get obsessive about checking everthing to make sure you have not done it again!
Geoff

Thank you for all your advice!

I initially tried to remove the deposits with CRC electronic cleaner containing isopropanol using two cotton buds spliced together to get the appropriate length. I managed only to remove some of the deposits with CRC. I will follow your advice and try White Vinegar.

If I manage to remove most of the deposits, so that the contacts are clean and everything functions properly, will that be good enough? Or do I need to remove absolutely 100% of the battery deposits? Will fragments of battery leakage cause harm to metal contacts or plastics in the long run?

I bought the MX "system" including the winder some weeks ago. The previous owner forgot to remove the batteries I will take great care to never do this mistake myself...
Bjørn

See the advice from John and Stefan:
Vinegar, then rinse, then dry. The more you can remove without anything getting into the works, the better. Sometimes you can clear the vinegar with a wet swab while you are holding the winder at an angle to keep the inside dry. You can always finish the drying with a hair dryer.
If you do not get all the corrosion out, then there is a good chance of rust in the future - this could lead to a complete failure. So the big question is "How long do you intend to use the winder for?". Two years? Five years? Ten years? The more you clean, the longer it will last (if you do it carefully).