[AMRadio] Replacement Part Query

[Mike Sawyer]

Been there done that Todd. The strap is copper. I think I ended up soldering 
one of mine together and its still in there. I would think long and hard 
about putting any kind of plastic (especially tie wraps) instead of the 
strapping. Even though it is underneath and toward the front, the rig still 
makes a good amount of heat. Tie wraps have a tendency to decompose when 
subjected to temperatures about 90° F (ask me how I know off line). I would 
look at using a copper or metal strap or I even considered using braided 
wire. Also, a phosphor-bronze guitar string would hold up too. I would nix 
the plastic though.
Just my bias.
Mod-U-Lator,
Mike(y)
W3SLK
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The Mohawk is set and the Apache
would've been, but a final checkout before re-installing in the cabinet
produced a snapped copper(beryllium?) tuning strap for the FINAL control. I
would guess by the looks of this one that it is a fairly frequent failure
part in rigs that see a lot of use. This one has been repaired at least
twice, including a piece spliced into it. Apparently this made the strap
too long, so the original owner ran it below one of the other shafts to
take up the slack, adding tension into the equation and assuring a future
failure.

Before attempting to make one, which will require tracking down the
material and tools to properly fabricate it, does anyone make replacement
straps? If not, I'll probably go with something along the lines of the
material used in tie wraps or another durable plastic rather than this
stuff again.

Thanks -

~ Todd,  KA1KAQ/4