[CW] Grounding on Vibroplex Deluxe Keys

[Richard Knoppow]

    This is what I was trying to say just now in anther post. 
Yours is better.

On 1/10/2022 10:36 PM, Joseph L. Pontek Sr. wrote:
> The pendulum return spring provides a return ground. If the 
> junction of that
> spring's tension screw gets dirty or the that post that goes 
> through the bar
> gets dirty, either, it loses the good ground path.
> 
> I have used de-soldering wick braid after using flux remover for 
> the braid.
> It is not tinned nor is the original braid. The non-bar end 
> without a spade
> just put under the yoke base. There is no way to run that braid 
> through the
> base. I just looked at one of mine I have here and the braid is 
> not tinned,
> just copper and quite long, thus very flexible.
> 
> If I remember correctly, the pan head screw was a #3, I do not 
> remember
> thread number. I had acquired the tape & die set, but they are in 
> Belize
> and I think I bought some screws, as well.
> 
> 73, Joe, K8JP/K5
> 
> On 1/10/2022 11:09 PM, David J. J. Ring, Jr. wrote:
>> The above cited problem has been discussed elsewhere, but it bears further discussion since
>> we have so many talented and knowledgable people and an equal number of newer CW opertors
>> who have come to the right place to get good information.
>>
>> I'm going to ask our friend and list member, Frank Geisler, W7IS of Oroville, Washington --
>> I always think of it as Oreoville, but I hear they only eat Hydrox cookies - which have come
>> back and are being sold at Walmart now!
>>
>> Frank and others will hopefully add to the discussion.
>>
>> Since 1979, various owners of Vibroplex have sought to reduce fabrication costs.
>>
>> Gone are the many delightful and varied models, the Presentation, the Blue Racer, the
>> Lightning Bug, and the Champion models lasted until around 1981 or so when they were
>> discontinued by Peter Garsoe of Portland, Maine who bought the Brooklyn based Vibroplex
>> company from the previous owners.
>>
>> One of the most unfortunate cost cutting changes was the elimination of the small diameter
>> tinned copper grounding braid between the yoke of the key and the main lever of the key
>> which pivots on the trunnion pin. connects to the "ground" terminal of the key which
>> connects to the base with a flat head machine screw through the bottom of the base. (If your
>> key is keying poorly, check for corrosion between the counter-sunk hole on the base and this
>> screw, it's a point often missed when troubleshooting poor sending from this type of key.)
>>
>> Exactly HOW is ground return provided Without the grounding braid providing between the main
>> lever which connects to the mainspring then to the pendulum then to the dot contact spring
>> and then to the very important DOT CONTACT which when the pendulum is vibrating contacts
>> the contact on the dot contact post and produces dots!
>>
>> What's the path?
>>
>> And once you figure out the path, what is wrong with using that type of path?
>>
>> Is it reliable?  Is it always connected to the ground terminal post?
>>
>> 73
>>
>> DR
> 
> -- 
> Regards, Joe, K8JP/V31JP, Ronnie, Martin & Sidney Pontek
> 175 Diamond Loch Rd., Apt. 5
> Gilmer, TX 75644-9374
> U.S.A.
> 903-204-2318 (My TX cellular)
> 
> Member FOC-1743 Feb 2001, QCWA-LM21894, OOTC-4607, A1OP, CFO 1055, SKCC-3171T, NAQCC-5798, Flying Pig-2819, FISTS-7625CC951, A1C-2299, SOC 1075, 10-10 22977, PG1915841, CW Rag chewers #21,
> Facebook: Joe Pontek
> 
> 
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-- 
Richard Knoppow
1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
WB6KBL