[GreenKeys] Restoration of T/D

[Roy Morgan]

On Dec 1, 2008, at 8:01 AM, Jerry Barnish wrote:


>  ...making a good T/D from many parts ...
> 1- for museum quality would you strip the old paint and repaint or  
> keep it original?

I presume this is a model 14 T/D with black wrinkle finish.

You will likely never get as good a paint job as is on there. Unless  
the cover/base is seriously dampness damaged or scraped up, I suggest  
you clean the paint you have as follows:

- get some Lemon Go-Jo, NON abrasive and a stiff scrub brush (the  
"hospital brush" meant for scrubbing before surgery is good,  but  
somewhat small.  The old style with wood base and actual natural  
bristles is still available in some places.)    Repeat, NON abrasive.   
Most any mechanics hand cleaner would likely do.

- Scrub the stuff into the paint with circular motions, let sit for a  
while, then remove with paper towels.  Be prepared to be amazed at how  
black the paper towels will be at first.

- Repeat as needed to get all the gunk out of the wrinkles.

- Follow up with Windex and paper towels till all is clean and shiny.

- Apply a good car wax, butchers, or bowling alley wax to the thing  
sparingly, using another of the brushes. wipe clean with soft rag.

- Admire a like-new appearance.

Now, there has been published a method to repair chips and scrapes in  
old time wrinkle paint. It involves making a mold from a good section  
of the piece using rubber mold material, then applying paint of the  
right color to the chipped spot (after scrupulous cleaning) and  
applying the mold to re-create the wrinkles.  The result was described  
as being undetectable from the original finish.

> 2- as far as torque values , having not looked in the manuals yet,  
> are the values published?

I seem to  vaguely remember a torque value in the manual for the main  
shaft top nut.  But I would not worry about that unless you have handy  
a torque wrench, and the correct socket or whatever to apply to the  
nut.  (I'm working from old memory, so don't have the assembly and  
parts clearly in mind.)

A very useful item in DIS-assemblling the main (vertical) shaft is a  
strap wrench or two.  That lets you get ahold of the shaft and nut or  
top flange with no danger of damage.  Harbor Freight sells a two- 
wrench pair of strap wrenches that works ok.

> We have a few pieces that need attention and I have three weeks of  
> vacation during the
> holidays and need to spend a few days for hobbies.

Yes.  Do not deny yourself some puttering time.

BTW, I looked for pictures of the New Jersey radio room and could not  
find any.

Roy

Roy Morgan
k1lky at earthlink.net
529 Cobb St.
Groton NY, 13073