[Boatanchors] AR-88 tuning capacitor question

[Richard Knoppow]

     I wonder if anyone on this list has had experience with
the tuning capacitor in the AR-88 or any of its related
models.  Here is the problem:  On my AR-88 the movement of
the capacitor is rather stiff.  I've cleaned and
relubricated the bearings several times with little
improvement. I've checked both halves and both are very much
the same. Now, the bearings and screws at the ends of the
frames are sealed with purple paint.  I think this is
factory original but don't know.  The rotor plates appear to
be centered in the stators but there is a consistent
calibration error which can be made to be either tuning too
high at the high end or tuning low in the middle of the
bands if the high end is set correctly.  When compromised
for the center of the band the calibration is very close
over most of the range. The error seems to be within the
0.5% spec found in some British handbooks nonetheless it
seems out of place.
     I am reluctant to try adjusting the bearings since that
also changes the centering.  I wonder if anyone else has
ever had any experience with this. Particularly, how stiff
is a normal tuning capacitor and how large a calibration
error do others get?  I am also interested in knowing how
far the dial coasts after a strong snap.  From some of the
stuff I've read it goes quite far. Mine goes about six turns
of the knob, that is about 3 of the large divisions of the
logging scale at the bottom of the main dial.

Thanks for any help.
BTW I am still looking for a good band 6 antenna coupling
coil.


--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
dickburk at ix.netcom.com