[Boatanchors] My Heathkit LG-1 Vernier dial, 3 months later, Sooooooooo Smoooooooooth!!

[Phil]

NOTE:  I posted the following to the Heathkit group, but thought it 
might be of interest here.

Some three months or so ago I bought an LG-1 signal generator.  The 
tuning dial vernier was froze solid, making it a VERY stiff 1:1 dial.  
It generated (pun intended) a bit of conversation here.

Just oiling it did NOTHING, it couldn't soak into the space between the 
two shafts.  Basically I had to remove the tuning capacitor, and with 
the heat of TWO soldering irons laying on the shaft then gripping the 
two shafts with two pair of pliers I slowly managed to work some oil 
into the drive and slowly the drive loosened up a bit.  I also soaked 
the shafts (shaft down in a small cup) in gasoline (OUTSIDE).  Then tip 
the capacitor up on it's back, put some 3in1 oil on the shaft and let it 
slowly soak in overnight. Slowly the drive came around to a usable 
state, with just a couple places where it was a bit stiff.  But it was 
usable.

After two days of this the shaft turned very easily and seemed to work 
as it should, smooth and easy across most of the dial.  I was satisfied.

Well yesterday I had need to use the generator again, after having let 
it sit unused for a month or so.

IMAGINE MY SURPRISE AND PLEASURE when I discovered that the tuning dial 
was SO SMOOTH AND EASY I first thought that the knob had come loose on 
the shaft.  NOT SO, it tuned frequency like it's supposed to!

I mean, this thing is REALLY soft turning and smooth.  I can only 
surmise that during the last couple months the oil (3in1) that I let run 
down into the shaft softened up any remaining grease between the shafts, 
making it work as it should.

As a side note.  Whedn I worked on the tuning capacitor and washed all 
the grease out of the ball bearings I used some of that black Molybdenum 
grease in a tube like we used when I worked in the shop repairing audio 
equipment.  Used it anywhere something had to slide or rotate.

Anyway, like I said in the subject line, the LG-1 tuning dial is now 
Soooooooo   Smooooooth.

I suspect the same idea/work would apply to any other Heathkit signal 
generators or other devices that used a similar planetary drive. . .

-- 
73 de Phil,  KO6BB
http://www.qsl.net/ko6bb/  (Web Page)

PRESENT RADIOS:
Grundigs:    S-350 (~2006), G6 (2011) & S450DLX (2014).
HOMEBREW:    7 Tube+Rect Regenerative RX for LF (built 2015)
Icom:        R-75 With Cascaded 250 & 125Hz CW Filters. (~2005)
Icom:        IC-7200 Transceiver (~2015).
Radio Shack: DX-380 digital portable (~1990).
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ACCESSORIES: HOMEBREW LF-MF Pre-Amp, MFJ-993B HF Auto-Tuner.
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Merced, Central California, 37, 18, 37N   120, 30, 6W CM97rh