[ARC5] Removing a soldered metal top C-58 (3 x .05) Tx capacitor

[Tom Bridgers]

Ken,
In my rush to send this to you and the roup, I neglected to mention one big step.  The metal top is not only soldered in place, but there are also 3 small crimps of the can edge (about 120 degrees apart) that grip the metal top.  So ... the first thing I did was  gently, but firmly hammer -- using a blunt edged metal rod, each crimp outward so that each crimp released its grip.  Two of the three crimps released just fine.  The third one released by about 50%.  But having 2 of the crimps release 100% was enough freedom, that once the top was separated from the can, it was easy to pull it and the caps out of the can.
Best,
-Tom  KE4RHH
 


From: tarheel6 at msn.com
To: kgordon2006 at frontier.com; arc5 at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Removing a soldered metal top C-58 (3 x .05) Tx capacitor
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2011 22:17:45 -0400




Ken Gordon gets all the credit for me tackling this project.  I would never have attempted to remove the soldered metal top of a C-58 capacitor had it not been for Ken's break through technique of removing the mica topped C-58s using a knife.  Which by the way, works extremely well, and he has the photos to guide you through the process.
 
Armed with the confidence gained from duplicating Ken's mica top removal technique, I proceeded to use a 250 watt Weller soldering gun to melt the solder that attached the top to the "flower pot" capacitor can. 
 
Here's a hot link to 3 photo's that show you the results:
 
     http://www.flickr.com/photos/13638411@N06/sets/72157626556095858/ 

Here's what I did.  I removed the top (with the terminals), which was soldered to the can, by heating up the edges of the pot with a 250 watt Weller soldering gun.  As the solder melted, I used a knife to gently separate the top from the can.  I did this several times until I had the top separated from the can.  The separation was not much -- probably 1/32nd or so of an inch.
  
At that point I inserted a small screwdriver under the metal top, gently pulled upward, and as I did so the top and the 3 capacitors pulled free from the can.  I found removing the top and the innards from this type of ARC-5 capacitor is not difficult to do.
 
The next step is to unsolder the ground lead (located on the bottom outside of the can) which is visible in one of the photo's.
 
After that is done, I'm now ready to install three new .05/500 disc capacitors, connect them correctly one side to each terminal, epoxy them in place, reseal the top with solder, and solder the ground lead for the three new capacitors that you inserted in the original hole that is used for this purpose...  I've ordered the caps from Mouser, and as soon as they arrive, I'll post photo's that show that part of the process.
 
I have several ARC-5 Tx's and Rx's, so now I've got to get to work and use the Ken Gordon technique to repot my 3 x .05 capacitors.  Thank you, Ken!
73's,
-Tom  KE4RHH