[Elecraft] Variable Inductors Stuck

[Chris Kantarjiev]

> A tip passed on to me when I was having the same problems with some very  
> small inductor cores in a commercial 2 way was to place a small amount of  
> petroleum jelly on the thread topside of the core and carefully warm it with 
> a heat  gun or hair dryer before attempting to shift it.

I've used this trick, or silicone spray, or Kroil (a pentrating oil). As
stated, the slugs are very brittle. You may have to whittle a suitable 
adjusting tip. I've had some success, a few times, extracting a core where
the adjustment hole has cracked and inverting it, so the remaining 
good end is usable.

All in all, they can be a real pain. Don't force them, it just gets worse.
I think that heat alone often helps the 'stuckness'. Note that many commercial
rigs will have the slugs sealed in place with paraffin that seeps down
into the threads...

73 de chris K6DBG