[ETO_Alpha] CW/SSB switches for Alpha 76?

[Tom Hammond]

Hi Dave:

While I cannot help you with obtaining REPLACEMENT switches, I may be able 
to assist you in FIXING the broken ones, IF you still have all the pieces.

I was recently working on a 76CA belonging to a friend (KW4A, but don't 
tell him)... as I lifted the amplifier case, I allowed my hand to catch one 
of the extended switches, which promptly broke on in my hand.

Needless to say, I was horror stricken... figuring I'd have to give him the 
switch bank from my 76PA. Fortunately, I figured out a method of repairing 
the existing switch, which had broken right at the smallest-diameter point 
along its length.

I used a small diameter drill bit (probably 1/16" or slightly smaller), 
drilled a hole STRAIGHT into the neck of the broken switch (which was still 
installed in the amp's front panel, and a matching hole into the (now 
hand-held) broken front end of the switch.

I then went the hardware store, found a piece of hobby wire (actually piano 
wire, VERY STRONG!) which just fit snuggly into the hole I'd drilled, cut 
it to the appropriate length with a emery cutoff wheel in my DremelTool, 
and Super Glued it into place (both pieces at the same time).

Subsequent 'stress' tests tend to indicate that the switch may well be 
stronger than it originally was.

You MUST use care when drilling the hole... use a low-speed drill if 
possible (to help avoid 'rounding out' the drilled hole to a diameter 
larger than you require), and then you need to use a SMALL amount of Super 
Glue, to avoid having it run into places you REALLY don't want to see it 
running. BEFORE you apply any glue, ENSURE that the three pieces (2 pieces 
of switch and 1 piece of piano wire) all fit together correctly, and 
snuggly. You'll get only one chance to do it right.

Good luck,

Tom Hammond    N0SS


At 11:00 AM 7/29/04, Dave Haupt wrote:
>Does anybody know where one can acquire the
>SSB/CW/Stby switches for the Alpha 76?  Mine came with
>the colored buttons broken off.  The assembly looks
>like something that might have come from Switchcraft,
>but when I looked for available Switchcraft info, I
>didn't see anything the correct size.
>
>Thanks!
>
>Dave W8NF
>
>
>
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