[CW] Vibroplex Original Damper Wheel

[Richard Knoppow via CW]

FWIW, I just looked at three standard bugs. The screw 
holding the damper protrudes from the lock nut on all but 
with somewhat different length. Two of these are the 
pre-WW-2 style with sharp cornered castings, one is about a 
1950 version with the rounded casting so the dimensions may 
be slightly different. I have never had a damper move after 
being adjusted. They seem to work best when they slide 
sideways easily and can flop back and forth just slightly.
   Another FWIW: I've looked at the design of both the 
standard and Lightening Bug versions. Its important that the 
main shaft be aligned vertically for the correct height. 
There is some compensation for this in the adjustable dash 
contact but the dot contact will not make squarely unless 
the overall height is correct. This is done with the 
vertical trunion adjustments. The same is probably true for 
all speed keys.
   BTW, my WW-2 vintage bug has a few parts that appear to 
have been plated with zinc. These develop a coating of white 
powder. My understanding is that the powder is zinc oxide. 
It is harmless and should be left alone since it provides 
some protection from further oxidation. I have not seen this 
on bugs of other periods so perhaps it was done only in 
war-time or perhaps its worn off of others.


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


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


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "stan levandowski via CW" <cw at mailman.qth.net>
To: "D.J.J. Ring, Jr." <n1ea at arrl.net>
Cc: "CW Reflector" <cw at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, December 14, 2014 6:19 AM
Subject: Re: [CW] Vibroplex Original Damper Wheel



Thank you, David, and everyone else who responded. I have 
standard
4-40 hardware and the screw is indeed "too long" and 
obviously not
original. It didn't even look right since the screw extended 
beyond the
nut for quite a distance. I'll just thread the nut on, cut 
the screw
off and reassemble with a dab of Locktite Blue unless I can 
find "more
correct" hardware.
73 and Season's Greetings,
Stan WB2LQF


On Sat, Dec 13, 2014 at 11:29 PM, D.J.J. Ring, Jr. via CW 
wrote:


The Original damper wheel moves around, I just tried to take 
two of them
apart, I cannot do it with my fingers, the nut on the back 
will not
loosen all the way. Same with the other key.

I have never had the damper wheel fly off. I have had them 
tighten up,
but I just back off on the forward screw. I do not remember 
if this was
other people's bugs or mine, but I check my bug often.

Damper wheel moves.

Weights tightly screwed on.

Adjust dash distance.

Adjust dash tension.

Clean contacts with stiff paper.

Check for 10 solid dots.

If something doesn't sound right, I investigate. Common 
malfunctions
are dirty contacts, poor ground due to ground terminal being 
loose, hot
terminal underneath straps dirty or loose. Dot U spring 
loose on
Vibrator. Oil on dot lever tension spring on deluxe post 
1980 bugs.
Broken or loose ground strap on deluxe pre 1980 models. Oil 
or grease
put on trunnion pivots: clean off!!

David

N1EA


On Dec 13, 2014 11:06 PM, "stan levandowski via CW" 
<cw at mailman.qth.net
<mailto:cw at mailman.qth.net> > wrote:
The 1943 Original I'm restoring has a damper wheel with flat 
head
machine screw and a nut.





This looks exactly like the Vibroplex site's mechanical 
drawing, just
the three parts.





I'm a bit confused here -- If I tighten down on the 
screw/bolt, the
damper wheel won't have any play. If I don't tighten it, 
eventually it
can loosen. This doesn't seem like a very good design and 
I'm afraid I'm
missing something. Perhaps the Original model isn't supposed 
to have a
"loose" damper wheel??





I realize I can double up on the nut and/or use Locktite 
Blue but I'm
curious to know if this is the actual design from 1943? Can 
someone with
an Original take a quick look and let me know?





Of all the bugs I've owned and operated over 50+ years, the 
Original is
one bug I've never operated, owned or even taken a close 
look at ;-)





Thank and 73,

Stan WB2LQF