[Heathkit] SB-1000 Tuning/Loading Capacitor Issue

[Rick Markey, KN3C]

I fired up my faithful SB-1000 the other day, only to discover that the 
loading capacitor did not appear to be working.  After removing the 
cover and looking for the cause, I discovered that when I rotated the 
loading control clockwise, the capacitor would move.  However when I 
rotated the loading control in the opposite direction, the capacitor 
would not move.

Here's what I found:





There is a 1/4" OD nylon shaft that is pressed onto the end of both the 
loading and tuning capacitors, which have been turned down and splined. 
The end of the nylon shaft that fits into the ball drive on the front 
panel is solid.



My tuning capacitor worked fine, but the nylon shaft was also split so 
it was only a matter of time before it failed.  My fix is to slide a 
shaft coupler over the broken connection.



If you have an SB-1000, you will most likely run into this problem at 
some point.  The nylon shaft does not appear to be a replaceable part.  
I don't understand why a shaft coupler wasn't used originally.  It would 
seem to be a better design and cheaper than manufacturing the capacitors 
with the splined end?

Rick, KN3C