[ARC5] Command TX Repairs

[Mike Morrow]

Jess wrote:

> Upon removing the bottom cover, I see that the tiny glass ... spacers
> in each of the three variable caps were missing.

Dave wrote:

> I'm thinking of pulling the entire cap chain from a "junker"
> and installing it.

IIRC, each capacitor uses three spacer balls, and it's easy to replace
two of the three.  Two are on one side of the stator, while the third
is one the other side. All this assembly is held together by the spring
tension of the structure on the single-ball side.

I've done such restorations several times, but the last time was more than
15 years ago and details now are hazy.  The one ball on the single-ball
side and one of the two on the two-ball side are easy to replace.  But
then appropriate pressure must be exerted on the stator to create enough
clearance for the final ball on the two-ball side while keeping the first
two balls in place.  I recall using a metal piece to depress the spring-
like stator piece while inserting the final ball that was held in a
hemostat clamp. I recall it being aggravating to do this without the third
hand of an assistant, but it was still quite possible without requiring
anything extraordinary.  I did not need to loosen anything on the capacitor.

This simple direct approach is far easier and quicker than attempting to
replace the whole capacitor assemblies, if you can find the balls.

It would also be worth a search under the chassis to see if any more of
the balls can be located.  There's really not much chance of the balls
escaping unless a previous owner removed the bottom plate and lost some.
Surely that didn't happen. :-)

Mike / KK5F