[CW] Lightning Deluxe questions

Mon Dec 15 09:50:38 EST 2014

Oh, I am going to crash shortly and hope I get a good nights sleep.  I 
have another detox treatment tomorrow
morning.  I had two great night's sleep after the last one.  I messed up 
texting, give me a key, so missed having
another treatment this weekend.

I now have great pictures with details of the Deluxe Lightning that 
clarifies much of the differences of the Deluxe
vs. Standard Lightning keys.

I may repeat some things here, but it will be in one spot.  The Deluxe 
keys use jewelled trunion screws.  These
trunions have a small bit of jewel imbedded inside the hole and the 
arbours for the Deluxe have a more rounded
tip that rides on the jewel.  The Standard arbours are more pointed and 
the taper rides on the side/edge of
their trunions.  I have miss placed my document regarding these jewelled 
trunions, but it seems like they were
ruby or red and later became green?

Originally, the jewelled trunions were the same, top & bottom, and 
adjustable.  What was happening, some
users were over tightening the trunion screws and were cracking the 
jewels.  Vibroplex then made the upper
trunion shorter and put in a red plastic jewel that screwed into the top 
hole, covering the trunion screwed.
Now, the red cover is just glued in place.  That faux red jewel made it 
difficult to adjust the upper trunion.
The feeling was, jewelled trunions did not need adjustment after they 
were set.  I am not sure why the
Standard trunions needed re-adjusting after being set.  I think WW II 
vintage did have the same jewelled
trunion screws, top & bottom, and no faux red jewel cap.

Any bugs using the jewelled trunions should have the grounding strap.  I 
just could not find any drawing
documenting the strap, even with the Original Deluxe types.  I heard the 
straps were dropped at one point,
but I have no new Deluxe keys to look at.  The ones I have seen, the 
pivot hinge is taped and the braid
is attached there. I have seen the other end put under the frame and to 
a screw into the frame.  The
Lightning the same, except the ground end is to a screw in a tapped hole 
of the left round vertical post.
I think it was Benny's photo confirmed that.  I will have to verify the 
screw sizes used for the braid,
but I suspect they are 2-56 pan head screws.

Even now, some Lightning parts are no longer available via Vibroplex.  I 
am making a replacement top
triangle with collet for one.  I have seen frame keys with those missing 
or broken going for dirt.

The red knob and paddles were part of the Deluxe looks.  Maybe, the 
black was used in WW II?

When I got my used Vizkey 90° bug, it had a problem that it would often 
miss the first dit after
making a dash.  I put a clip lead between the dot bar (dual lever) and 
ground. The was gone.
The TW has what looks like small brass springs wire going from the dot & 
dash bars and captured
between the top triangle plate and the two support posts.  I tightened 
the screws a little and the
problem was cured.  I am suspecting many bug dot problems could be 
traced to poor grounding of
the dash/dot or dot bars.

Thank you, guyd for confirming what I suspected and for the clarifying 
details.  Lightning Deluxe
keys are fairly uncommon.

On 12/14/2014 7:27 PM, D.J.J. Ring, Jr. via CW wrote:
> Hello Benny,
>
> Your guess is probably a good one because the WW2 Deluxe came with a
> painted base, had a slotted trunnion adjustment screw at the top - no
> red decorative piece, but had red finger pieces.
>
> It looks like it is a Standard Lightning Bug - - check the trunnion
> pin.  Is it rounded?  If so, it is a deluxe trunnion pin.  If it is
> sharp it is a standard pin.  OK now look at the cups - they should
> either look like a shallow redish dish - that's the deluxe bearing.
> The standard bearing looks more like a hole much more narrow than a
> deluxe.  It looks to me like a small allen screw - maybe 1 mm size.
>
> Joe you have better technical language than I do.  Can you improve my
> words and explanation?
>
> 73
>
> DR
>
>
> On Sun, Dec 14, 2014 at 8:12 PM, Benny Owens via CW <cw at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
>> HI JOE
>>
>> YES THEY HAD A GROUND STRAP OR COILED WIRE.  THE UPPER BEARING IS NOT
>> ADJUSTABLE.  THE FAUX RED THING SITS ABOVE IT.
>>
>> I HAVE TWO DELUXE L'BUGS AND THEY ARE IDENTICAL EXCEPT THE FAUX RED BUTTON
>> ON TOP IS MISSING ON ONE.  THIS PIECE OF RED PLASTIC IS JUST DECORATIVE AND
>> DOES NOTHING FOR BUG OPERATION.
>>
>> I HAVE A GREY BASE, BLACK HANDLED L'BUG  WITH THE DELUXE BEARINGS. THE RED
>> PLASTIC DOT IS THERE TOO.   IT DOES NOT HAVE THE SHORTING STRAP AND WAS
>> ERRATIC AS THE ONLY GROUND WAS THE DIT SPRING.  THAT HEAVY STIFF WIRE THE
>> SPRING IS SOLDERED TO WAS LOOSE FITTING INSIDE THE ARM.  IT SOUNDED TERRIBLE
>> UNTIL I ADDED A SHORTING STRAP.  MY GUESS IS THEY PHASED OUT THE DELUXE AND
>> HAD THE BEARINGS LEFT OVER.  TO USE THEM UP, THEY WENT OUT ON A STANDARD
>> MODEL.  ONLY A GUESS.
>>
>> I HAVE PHOTOS OF BOTH I RECENTLY SEND SOME OF THE 40M RAG CHEW GANG SINCE
>> THEY GOT TO HEAR THE BEFORE AND AFTER.  JOE, LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE
>> INTERESTED IN SEEING THOSE PHOTOS.
>>
>> IF ANYONE HAS ANY INFO ON THE HYBRID STANDARD/DELUXE CIRCA 1975 LIGHTNING
>> BUG,  PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
>>
>> 73
>> BENNY K5KV
>>
>> On Sat, Dec 13, 2014 at 11:38 PM, Joseph L Pontek Sr via CW
>> <cw at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
>>> With the Lightnings, the lower trunion screw is locked by a screw through
>>> the collet
>>> in the lower triangular plate.  The upper trunion screw is locked by a
>>> locking nut
>>> turned down to the collet on the upper triangular plate.
>>>
>>> Now, for the Deluxe I have a picture of, the upper collet has the typical
>>> faux red jewel,
>>> but I see no other means to lock that screw.  I am trying to find my notes
>>> about the
>>> jewelled trunion, but not yet found.  Maybe, it is not needed.  Also, did
>>> the Deluxe
>>> Lightnings have a ground braid from the dot bar to ground, also?
>>>
>>> --
>>> Regards, Joe, Ronnie (Rowena), Marty & Sidney Pontek
>>> P.O. Box 280, Dangriga, Stann Creek District
>>> (Hopkins Village) Belize
>>> 011-501-666-3564 Belize (cellular)
>>> or
>>> 5204 Texas Highway 49 W
>>> Omaha, TX 75571-6474
>>> U.S.A.
>>> 903-434-9111 (My NEW cellular when in Texas)
>>> 903-884-5990 (Skype telephone number, Belize & TX)
>>> Also, K8JP, member FOC-1743, CWops-876, QCWA-LM21894, OOTC-4607, A1OP,
>>> SKCC-3171T, NAQCC-5798, Flying Pig-2819, FISTS-7625CC951, A1C-2299, SOC
>>> 1075, 10-10 22977, PG1915841, CW Rag chewers #21,
>>> Skype: v31joepalooka
>>> Facebook: Joe Pontek
>>> I am looking for Vibroplex Model X, Double lever and prefer basket cases
>>> to restore.
>>>
>>>
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>>
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-- 
Regards, Joe, Ronnie (Rowena), Marty & Sidney Pontek
P.O. Box 280, Dangriga, Stann Creek District
(Hopkins Village) Belize
011-501-666-3564 Belize (cellular)
or
5204 Texas Highway 49 W
Omaha, TX 75571-6474
U.S.A.
903-434-9111 (My NEW cellular when in Texas)
903-884-5990 (Skype telephone number, Belize & TX)
Also, K8JP, member FOC-1743, CWops-876, QCWA-LM21894, OOTC-4607, A1OP, SKCC-3171T, NAQCC-5798, Flying Pig-2819, FISTS-7625CC951, A1C-2299, SOC 1075, 10-10 22977, PG1915841, CW Rag chewers #21,
Skype: v31joepalooka
Facebook: Joe Pontek
I am looking for Vibroplex Model X, Double lever and prefer basket cases to restore.

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