[ICOM] 706 tuning knob

[W5HTW at att.net]

Had problems with mine as well.  First it was binding.  That turned out to be the shaft had collected too much dust.  A good cleaning and a bit of lubrication and it spins freely now.  

But on the subject, while I had it apart, I 'ruffled' the felt brake pads.  That seemed to make the lock lever hold a bit better.  You can also clean the surface of the knob, where the pads rub, and it helps, too.  I used cotton swabs and alcohol to clean that, to get any lubricant off it.  With the brake off, I can spin the knob and it will go three or more revolutions.  With the brake on, it will coast only about one-third turn.  May could be improved over that, but it is not intended to firmly lock the knob in place; that is what the "lock" control does.  It is only intended to increase tension for tuning when mobile, and it does that quite well. 

Ed

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Ed Brooks, W5HTW
http://w5htw.home.att.net/index.html
Active since June 1956 Extra since
Jan 1970