[ARC5] Rebuilding capacitors

[Jack Antonio]

I've been spending some time rebuilding
the 5414 capacitors, and want to share
a couple of things.

First, the use of tubing cutter to pull
the lid off is one of those "why didn't
I think of that" things. Thanks Mike!

So I bought at Sears yesterday an Empire
2821 tubing cutter.(I have no connection to Sears)

I clamped the mounting feet in a vise and
found that if I carefully position the cutter
at the base of the lip, and continuously apply
upward pressure while I cut, I can get a cut
right at the base of the lip. If I don't do
this, I get a cut about 1/8" below the lip.
Also don't try to apply too much pressure with
disc, you can bow the cut inward.

Just under the mica there is an insulating disc,
I call it fiber but I don't know what it is made of.
I try to use the existing pigtails, solder the new
caps to them, making sure I can have about 1/4"
separation between the disc and the mica. When
reassembling the unit, I force the disc into the
can with the tip of a small screwdriver, this acts
as a jig to keep the lid from moving around too much
while soldering the lid back on.

But first, when reassembling the can, get the
orientation of the terminals right.

I soldered my cans back together, almost need three
hands, I try to use as little solder as I can and
my 100 watt gun, and feed a bead of solder into the
joint.  Then, I use the gun and some solder wick, and
wipe the joint with solder wick, it soaks up excess solder
and makes it almost look it was "supposed to be that way".

Anybody else have any other techniques?

Jack

Jack Antonio WA7DIA
scr287 at sbcglobal.net