I have a couple DAB radios with a dial that spins mechanically. The dials spin in steps, not smooth like a variable resistor. They also have a push-button so if you push the button it serves as an /ENTER/ button. What is that kind of knob called? I am struggling to even search for my problem because I don’t know the terminology.
Yes, but there’s a spesific order which you need to touch the wires so that it registers movement in one way or the other. You could also solder wires to another rotary encoder and use that (assuming of course that the new part electrically matches the old part).
Spraying contact cleaner in the case might work too while rotating the knob. Just drowning it in something most likely won’t help much, but if you can get the encoder off the board then you can sink it in a isopropyl alcohol and rotate the knob around. Just let it dry properly before putting it back together, contacts may spark when used and if there’s alcohol vapours around that might cause some new and exciting problems.