[Boatanchors] LM Cloudy Dial Window

[Brian Clarke]

Hello Bill,

In my two LMs, I pried out the clouded nitro windows without dismantling the variable capacitors or their dials. I scratched a fiducial on suitable pieces of Lexan where I had punched out holes to accommodate the previous rivets. I did not try to remove the rivets. I used Weld Bond (R) to hold the new Lexan windows in place. Weld Bond cures transparent. It was tricky to get the replacement windows in place; I used screwed up paper between the dials and windows to hold them in place while the Weld Bond cured.

73 de Brian, VK2GCE

-----Original Message-----
From: boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of William Cromwell
Sent: Sunday, 6 February 2022 5:52 AM
To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Boatanchors] LM Cloudy Dial Window

Hi,

I have been working on an old LM-13. It suddenly stopped working one 
fine day. I found a couple of electrical problems including a tube 
socket and repaired successfully. Meanwhile the plastic window over the 
coarse frequency dial is clouded up too much to actually use. I see that 
the window and it's parts are riveted to the front panel. The obvious 
thing would be drill out the rivets and make a new plastic window with 
fiducial and then remount the assembly with small screws. Lots of fussy 
work. Have to remove the coarse dial drum for access. I have already 
made 'witness marks' to get the drum back in place.

I could use an exacto knife to cut out the plastic window from the 
outside. That would need an external bezel with the plastic window 
fitted inside the opening and the bezel holding it in place and glued to 
the outside of the front panel. Removal of the dial drum not required. I 
care less about original appearance than i care about useful function.

It might be possible to clean up the original plastic window with the 
compounds that are sold for cleaning headlight assemblies on our cars. I 
don't expect it to work but is the lest invasive and easiest to try. 
If/when that fails I would get out the exacto knife and try that 
route.As a last resort I would get out the drill bits and use a hand 
tool to drill out what looks like soft metal and take the long route.

I am thinking of adding an LED dial lamp inside behind that window.

I wonder what other LM owners have done about that window.

73,

Bill  KU8H

-- 
bark less - wag more

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