[Collins] Is there a source for R388/51J aligment tools?

[Dr. Gerald N. Johnson]

On Tue, 2009-08-11 at 22:25 +0000, John Hensley wrote:
> Thank Jerry, wish I had a job even if it kept me 1000 miles away from
> my home :-) ... will follow up with you when you get back.

It was a vacation trip, 2 or three thousand miles, I've not figured it
out yet. Found a weak heater core in the truck and some slippery road,
but only the heater core needs fixing. The core is cheap, getting to it
is an 8 hour job for the experienced.

Rooting back into my archives I found a post I sent Jan 26, 2004. Says
the 51J and S-Line need a .060 6 spline, a .076 4 spline, a .096 6
spline and a .111 6 spline Bristol Spline wrenches. The long armed ones
are handier than the short ones. I also have the same sizes in an
Xcelite 99 kit. Some of these also are proper for the A line and 32V my
search has shown.

In my vintage McMaster-Carr catalog (www.mcmaster.com) I see the four
flute .076 would be 7048A63 for less than a buck, the .060 6 flute is
7048A65, the .096 is 7048A31, and the .111 is 7048A32, each for less
than buck a copy.

A 51J3 manual I have on this computer says you need these special tools
for alignment (section 5.3.2):

A loading or detuning network consisting of a .01 capacitor and a 4700
ohm resistor in series with alligator clips.

A fiber or bakelite screwdriver 1/8" diameter.

A fiber or bakelite screwdriver 5/16" diameter.

You can probably find fiberglass rods those sizes in a hobby shop and
form the screwdriver tips with a flat file. I go to the home center and
pick up fiberglass tomato stakes or bicycle flag masts and turn them
down with my metal lathe. I often shape the screwdriver bits with my
grinding wheel or a sanding disk. These are fragile bits and your
shopping might want to include a 6" flat mill file for reshaping the
bits after they break or wear.

The VFO adjustment tools are harder to make. I've not needed them yet.

-- 
73, Jerry, K0CQ, Technical Advisor to the CRA
All content copyright Dr. Gerald N. Johnson, electrical engineer