Just put the leads on the tube electrode wires, plug it in, turn on the switch.
If it lights it's good. If it's weak it needs gas, usually this means trash it or
get another, some neon shops can break and re-gas some tubes.
Cleaning your neon sign
If you want to make your neon sign real nice you will want to clean it.
You can dust it if it's not bad, but if it has 10 years worth of nicotine
and grill grease on it, then the only real way is to disassemble it and wash
the tubes and frame. Using the basic rules for neon tube removal, take them off.
Once off you can wash them in the sink, a good detergent works best, soaking is good.
I like using a soft pot scrubber, gently rub the tubes till the gook comes off, and rinse.
IF the tubes are coated on the outside I wouldn't recommend trying this as most coated tubes will already be nicked and flaking and scrubbing would possibly remove the coating. You can remove the transformer from the frame and do the same to the frame, you can even pressure wash the frame at the car wash if you like.
If you don't want to try taking it apart you can try spraying the sign with a detergent / cleaner and spray it off with water. Keep in mind you should blow off all excess water and let it air dry for several days (setting it in the sun would help).
Painting your neon sign
You may want to paint the frame after washing it (if it's bad enough).
If the black out paint on the tube(s) has came off, it is easy to touch up.
There is a professional black out paint for this, but a good oil based enamel works fine.
I like Rust-Oleum, brush only, spray just doesn't cover.
The best way to be sure and get the back areas blacked out is to power the tube up and paint it while lighted, this way you can see the thin spots that you might miss when
not lighted. Note that the paint flows well when hot, cures best when cooled down.
Re-assembling your neon sign.
Basically just reverse the take apart.
If all your tubes have been removed, I suggest doing a trial run re-installing them before tying them down, this way you can be sure you are doing it in the right order.
Don't forget to put the insulation tubes on the tubes, before assembling,
you may not be able to after installing them.
I suggest lightly tying all the tubes on until all tubes are on the frame (to be sure all are in the right order and fit), then twisting the ties down until snug (twist too hard and oops). Snip off the extra tie wire.
Neon parts & stuff.
If you cut your insulation boots when dis-assembling you can tape over them,
or you can buy some new ones here.
If you can't reuse your copper neon tube tie down wires I have tie wire on the supply page.
I have high voltage wire to connect tubes to transformers on the supply page.
If you have a bad lead from a transformer, or one is too short, you can splice on to it
using the above mentioned wire. Using one or two layers of shrink tube over the splice is a good idea.
I hope this has helped you to figure out your neon sign problems and/or repair them.
I have tried to explain things the best I can, let me know if you have any suggestions or helpful hints
