[ARC5] Tuning Capacitor Removal - Help, please!

[Kenneth G. Gordon]

On 20 Mar 2011 at 15:09, Andy Young wrote:

> I have a BC-946 whose antenna connector has been bent down by 45
> degrees in transit, distorting the front panel.

A common problem.

> I have concluded that
> the only way to straighten the panel will be to remove the tuning
> capacitor.

With that large of a bend, probably that will be the only way.

> Can I have some advice on its removal from someone who has
> done it before, please, before I break something!

I just did that yesterday.

> In particular, I
> assume I need to remove the dial by getting a socket on the big nut on
> the front

Correct. They usually aren't all that tight, and usually are more-or-less sealed 
in place with black paint. 

BUT!!! Be very careful NOT to turn the dial itself when you do this. There is a 
very small pin that aligns the dial correctly with the capacitor. To remove the 
dial, once you have removed the large nut, CAREFULLY pry up on the 
edges of the dial by sliding something thin between the dial and the front 
panel and prying up at several points around its circumference. The dial will 
come loose fairly easily. Watch for the pin and the corresponding hole in the 
dial. That hole is usually covered with paint and since the pin is so small, it 
can be hard to find.

> - what will react the torque I apply, I don't want to strain
> anything. Apart from unsoldering the wires, is there anything other
> than the screws on the front panel holding the capacitor in place?

There are four largish screws that hold the cap to the front panel, but, once 
you have removed those, there is also a small tubular ceramic capacitor that 
is soldered to the antenna post and to a connection on the tuning cap. The 
leads on this cap are very short. You will have to remove at least one of 
those leads in order to tilt the tuning capacitor far enough to the rear of the 
radio in order to give yourself enough room to work on the bend.

In MOST cases you do NOT have to entirely remove the tuning cap.

Once you have unsoldered one end of that antenna-to-tuning cap cap, you 
SHOULD be able to tilt the tuning cap to the rear enough to give you the 
necessary room.

The aluminum of the front panel is very soft, and you shouldn't have to work 
very hard to get it all back in place.

There is a small nut, usually with red glyptol sealing it, on the rear of the 
ceramic antenna connector. You should remove that, then remove the 
antenna connector in order to straighten out the front panel, then reinstall.

The antenna connectors are somewhat easy to break.

Red nail-polish will suffice to hold the nut securely once you put it back on.

Let us know how it goes.

Ken Gordon W7EKB