[ARC5] Rusty Tuning Cap

[Mike Everette]

One of my favorite elixers for helping get rid of rust and corrosion is the aerosol, P-B Blaster.  Be warned, it might attack plastic, wax insulation, and some other things; but it does a marvelous job of degreasing and busting corrosion.  In receivers with terminal strips riveted to the chassis, a little of this stuff dribbled around the rivet head and the base of the terminal strip goes a long way toward solving problems.  I have also used it to fix intermittent wipers on tuning caps, both where the wiper contacts the frame and the condenser shaft itself.

Don't "hose" anything with P-B Blaster.  Just squirt some into a Q-tip (watch out for your eyes!) and apply it that way; or with a small artist's brush.  Don't let the stuff get on a dial, or plastic dial window.

P-B Blaster also does wonders for getting old dried and caked grease out of bearing races and gearboxes.  Once they are clean, I re-lube them with LaBelle 102, a viscous oil intended for hobby motors.  This oil will stay in place for a long time.  If you want to disassemble a bearing race to repack it with actual grease, fine; but I prefer not to risk losing the bearings (happened once).  And, there are greases made for the model train and R-C boat folks which can be injected using a "syringe" tip on a bottle or tube; LaBelle makes a lithium-based grease intended for small gearboxes which does well for this.

Be warned:  P-B Blaster is strong stuff and should only be used with PLENTY of ventilation!

However, lest anyone get excited or think me naive, I fully realize that in things like dynamotors, a heavier grease is mandatory!

And, of course, DeOxit is the ultimate lubricant for condenser wipers, switch contacts, etc.  I would never dispute that.  Use it all the time.

Another rust remover I have not heard mentioned here, is Coca-Cola!  Yep!  It will take out light rust.  (Imagine what it does to your innards...!)

73

Mike
W4DSE


--- On Mon, 1/28/13, Geoff <geoffrey at jeremy.mv.com> wrote:

> From: Geoff <geoffrey at jeremy.mv.com>
> Subject: Re: [ARC5] Rusty Tuning Cap
> To: "Robert  Eleazer" <releazer at earthlink.net>, arc5 at mailman.qth.net
> Date: Monday, January 28, 2013, 1:59 PM
> There are water based solutions
> (called derusters, rust removers, etc) used by automotive
> and other restorers that remove iron oxide, do not attack
> the base metal or aluminum, copper, brass, etc.
> 
> The cap would have to be removed and dunked per
> instructions.
> 
> The problem with those is that after drying flash rust will
> develop unless prevented. I dip caps in "Prep Step" and let
> dry. In a dry indoor enviroment there hasnt been any more
> rust for a decade or more.
> Ive also stored dipped or sandblasted auto parts outside for
> over a year in an open shed or under a tarp.
> 
> Carl
> 
> 
> > Any of y'all ever try to repair a rusty tuning
> cap?  I have an NC-270 I picked up and it has a bit of
> rust on the chassis.  Most of it is not a problem and I
> have treated it, but the main tuning cap is pretty rusty.
> > 
> > The cap plates are not rusty but the frame is, which I
> do not see as a big problem, except for the area on one end
> where the "wiper" is for the shaft.  That is so rusted
> that there is no way any decent electrical contact is
> occurring.  I doubt the feasibility of dismantling it
> and cleaning it up with insuring complete destruction.
> > 
> > I am checking on a replacement, but do any of y'all
> have any suggestions?
> > 
> > Thanks.
> > 
> > Wayne
> >
> ______________________________________________________________
> > ARC5 mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/arc5
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:ARC5 at mailman.qth.net
> > 
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> > 
> > 
> > -----
> > No virus found in this message.
> > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> > Version: 10.0.1430 / Virus Database: 2639/5563 -
> Release Date: 01/28/13
> > 
> 
> ______________________________________________________________
> ARC5 mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/arc5
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:ARC5 at mailman.qth.net
> 
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>