PDA

View Full Version : Today's vintage equipment rant



N8YX
11-12-2016, 06:11 PM
Analog VFOs with clutch-style, ball bearing reduction drives are THE SUCK when the OEM grease dries out and they get "notchy".

Anyone who's ever owned an older TS- series Kenwood hybrid, FT/FR/FL series Yaesu from the mid-70s-early 80s and a number of other models from assorted manufacturers knows exactly what I'm talking about.

It's never simple to get the damn thing out of its radio, either - and rebuilding in place is "challenging", to put it mildly.

Two Hole (sic) Daze (sic) spent on the #*^{#ing project and I finally got the tuning smooth enough to work properly.

Disassemble the clutch bearing race, bearings, tuning shaft and tensioner springs, carefully clean everything (including stationary race and bearing holder) with brake cleaner on a Q-Tip. Use a toothpick to finish the cleaning process. Reassemble with no lube and moderately snug the race tensioner nut, then rotate the tuning shaft while checking for grittiness and proper function.

If all looks good...remove the race tensioner nut, springs (if used) and outer race. Then squirt a little Bel-Ray, Spectro One or similar "no fling" chain lube onto the ball bearing area. Use a clean toothpick and pack a little Slick 50 "One Grease" between the bearing balls in the stationary race then install the outer race, tensioner nut and springs. Slowly tighten tensioner until side-to-side shaft play disappears then check for smoothness throughout the tuning range.

That lubrication mixture and procedure cured my FR-101's VFO of a major mechanical glitch. Figured someone else might benefit from it.

NQ6U
11-12-2016, 06:13 PM
Had the same issue with my Drake 4-line gear. PITA, for sure.

N8YX
11-12-2016, 06:41 PM
Had the same issue with my Drake 4-line gear. PITA, for sure.
I bought about $500 worth of N4YG's DDS VFO kits (board, PIC and DDS chip; u-build-the-rest) when he had them for sale for the express purpose of converting 4x R7, 2x TR7 and 2x TR5 to synthesized tuning. Those are on my to-do list in the next year or so.

Joe's kits would also work in the 4-line series equipment. I hope someone follows in his footsteps and continues offering similar kits.

K4PIH
11-13-2016, 10:48 PM
Thanks for the input. I have an old FT-101EE and several Swan's that need the procedure. On my to-do list over the coming holidays.

N8YX
11-14-2016, 10:48 AM
Bear in mind the gear manufacturerss who used this kind of tuning arrangement in their equipment spec'd a "friction grease" for lubricating the ball drives. It allows the balls to grip the tuning shaft while still rolling smoothly.

If anyone can find a commercial P/N for the stuff, post it here. My formulation was the result of a bit of experimenting. How well it ages (i.e., doesn't dry out like the OEM grease) remains to be seen.

WØTKX
11-14-2016, 02:52 PM
Tri-Flo synthetic grease seems to be a winner.

http://www.wb4hfn.com/

Not sure if red or clear is better.

N8YX
11-14-2016, 05:55 PM
Tri-Flo synthetic grease seems to be a winner.

http://www.wb4hfn.com/

Not sure if red or clear is better.
Noted, and I think Summit Racing/DX Engineering (right up the road from me) carries the stuff.

KC2UGV
11-15-2016, 10:30 AM
...It allows the balls to grip the tuning shaft ...

You said balls grip the shaft, lol

/12YearOldMind

WZ7U
11-15-2016, 03:34 PM
heee hee hee

AA1OH
11-20-2016, 06:27 PM
Try working on a 80+ year old National PMW (?) dial/drive. The ones they used on the HRO/NC-100/101. There goes a weekend of fun!

N8YX
11-21-2016, 10:43 PM
Try working on a 80+ year old National PMW (?) dial/drive. The ones they used on the HRO/NC-100/101. There goes a weekend of fun!
I think I have one of those in the junk box.