Difficult tuning

[Bob Krassa]

 Some boatanchor tuning capacitors have ball bearings lubed with grease.
Some of those actually have bearing covers that are held on by a couple of
screws, for example on a Hallicrafters SX-73 that I am working on right now.
If you can see the balls, you can flush all the old grease out with a spray
degreaser, let dry and re-lube with a high quality grease like lubriplate
white.  I use a carved down McDonalds coffee stirrer to press the grease
into place.

73s Bob Krassa AC0JL




-----Original Message-----
From: Boat Anchor Owners and Collectors List
[mailto:BOATANCHORS at LISTS.TEMPE.GOV] On Behalf Of Robert Groh
Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2009 1:19 PM
To: BOATANCHORS at LISTS.TEMPE.GOV
Subject: Re: Difficult tuning

If you talking only about the variable cap (i.e. not including the dial
mechanism), it is probably in the bearings (most likely), the wiper(s) (less
likely) or (slim possibility) alignment.  Most likely (and the first place I
would hit) is the bearings - they are probably all gooped up with old
lubricant (or no lubricant). Work some WD-40 into the bearings and rotate
the shaft (a lot!).  Use a cotton swab to work new stuff in and get the old
stuff out.  If you have access to compressed air, blast the bearing area a
bit.  Flood it with the WD-40 and get it clean!  If that does the job, then
use some good quality oil (turbine oil from your local hardware store (or
perhaps good ol' 3-in-1) is a good choice) and relubricate the bearing area.
Use some contact cleaner on the wiper. Check mechanical alignment.  That
should do the job.

73
Bob Groh, WA2CKY




________________________________
From: Bob Jackson <bob at NOFROWNS.NET>
To: BOATANCHORS at LISTS.TEMPE.GOV
Sent: Tuesday, August 4, 2009 11:28:34 AM
Subject: [BOATANCHORS-TEMPE] Difficult tuning

Fellow BA'ers ...

What's the best way to lube, free up or otherwise make easier a hard-to-tune
variable cap in a BA? The one I'm presently dealing with is smooth enough,
just takes considerably more force to rotate the shaft than one would like.

Thanks and 73,

Bob
AG5X

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