[Boatanchors] NC-100 Catacomb Tray and Kroil

[Doug Hensley]

I have a beautiful NC-100 National that has the two vertical racing stripes on the front.  Twiddling knobs the first thing I found was that the catacomb tray (band change) seems stuck.  I know better than to try to apply force so I thought I was query you experts for clues as to what might be going on.


Quick comments on the Kroil.  It comes in both aerosol and liquid.  Use the liquid so that you can control it.  I've used it most of my life and it will work in some instances by letting it soak in but it's not a cure all.  If the screw or bolt you are attempting to dis-lodge was installed with an anaerobic resin (e.g. loc-tite), kroil will only go so far.  I'll think of other suggestions after I send this but two proven approaches are:


  1.   Apply firm counter-clockwise and then clockwise torque to the screw or bolt as if you are "threading" a tap through.  Do this when you have Kroil sitting on the joint.
  2.   Most materials have enough dissimilarity to them that their expansion & contraction when heated or cooled is enough to weaken the joint.  It also can aide Kroil in working more quickly.  I have often taken a hot air gun to heat up a localized fastener spot and then put the few drops of Kroil on to seep in.


The moral of the story is "think", go slow and don't loose your patience.  Sometimes a cup of coffee or a lunch break is all you need to be a different problem solver the next time you tackle the issue.


Good luck.


Doug W5JV