[Boatanchors] Dial Re-Stringing Madness!

[Greg Mijal]

Hi:

I work on old ham gear all the time and am trying to increase my skill level with the dreaded task of dial re-stringing.  There is one kind of dial stringing scheme that seems to give me lots of problems and my batting average with this one is not good.  I'll describe it for you and if you have any knowledge to share I sure would appreciate it.

It's the main tuning capacitor with the big tin wheel attached to the tuning shaft and driven by a couple of turns wound around a brass shaft attached to the main tuning dial which is off set from the tuning capacitor.  This scheme is in the Drake 2A 2B RX,  the Hammarlund HX 50 transmitter and lots of other stuff.
No problems following the manuals to set up the stringing and I have specialized tools to get right thru it. I use good quality string designed for radio work.  The problem is I frequently end up with a dial that stops moving at some point in it's travel range. There is good tension overall and the string is not binding as it travels.  The damn thing just stops turning the cap and slips on the tuning dial shaft.
Any ideas guys?
Thanks
Greg
WA7LYO
Kinston NC