[ICOM] Stiff VFO dial when turned on

[Gary Fiber]

Jim,

I suspect you are correct. Though during my time at Icom, 1989-2001,  can't
remember ever seeing any of the tech's spray any lube into the encoder. I
think it was the IC-775 when I first encountered any encoder actually
seizing up and we replaced the ones that came through the shop found that
way. I do remember receiving HT's that were dropped into water and sprayed
with WD-40, Mostly we just reboxed those and returned them to the owner
unrepaired.  Trying to clean them up enough, remove the WD-40,  so solder
would stick took more time than a customer was willing to pay for and it was
not always successful.

The old IC-735 you can actually change out the leds and "rebuild" that
encoder, newer ones are mostly a circuit board inside, looks like a grey
code or similar encoder with wipers the contact the circuit board within.

Gary K8IZ

-----Original Message-----
From: icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On
Behalf Of Jim Hargrave
Sent: Friday, December 14, 2012 6:16 AM
To: ICOM Reflector
Subject: Re: [ICOM] Stiff VFO dial when turned on

Gary,

I suspect the difference between cold and warm-up is the old grease/lub
congealing when cold and becoming more fluid as the radio warms up. Just a
guess. I had this happen on one of the VFO encoders in my FT-920. I found it
pretty tight one morning when I first turned it on.

I never had a problem with my IC-735 encoder, but lubricated it anyhow.
There was a noticeable difference even though it did not feel tight before
the lub job. It was probably a matter of time and it might start to freeze
up. Its 26 years old, but still plugging along.

    73s de Jim
       W5IFP


  > -----Original Message-----
  > From: icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net
  > [mailto:icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Gary Fiber
  > Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2012 4:25 PM
  > To: ICOM Reflector
  > Subject: Re: [ICOM] Stiff VFO dial when turned on
  >
  >
  > Before you spray all sorts of lube onto the shaft just give the tuning
  > knob a little pull, it just pulls off and see if its not
  > smashed against
  > the face a little to much. Can't explain the difference between being
  > "cold" and warmed up effecting the turning though.
  > I have seen other encoders, IC-775 I seem to remember,  tie up
  > but can't
  > remember seeing one from a 706 series do that.
  >
  > Gary K8IZ
  >
  > On 12/13/2012 12:42 PM, Jim Hargrave wrote:
  > > John,
  > >
  > > You may just need some shaft lubrication. I would suggest
  > removing the knob
  > > and spraying a little "Tri-Flow" on the encoder shaft. Let it
  > penetrate
  > > while rotating the shaft. Tri-Flow is a combination penetrant
  > and lubricant.
  > > It has Teflon in it and does not gum up like WD-40.
  > >
  > > I lubricate all my tuning shafts with Tri Flow on a periodic
  > basis. Just a
  > > little dab will do you.
  > >
  > >      73s de Jim
  > >         W5IFP
  > >
  > >
  > >    > -----Original Message-----
  > >    > From: icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net
  > >    > [mailto:icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of John
  > >    > Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2012 12:44 PM
  > >    > To: ICOM Reflector; ic706 at yahoogroups.com;
  > ic-706MKIIG at yahoogroups.com
  > >    > Subject: [ICOM] Stiff VFO dial when turned on
  > >    >
  > >    >
  > >    > I have an Icom 706 original (so it is 16 years old or
  > so) and I have
  > >    > noticed recently when I first turn on the radio, the VFO dial is
  > >    > rather stiff (the lever is in the least tension
  > position).  After the
  > >    > radio has been on for a while it does seem to loosen up
  > some.  Has
  > >    > anyone else noticed this problem?  Could the encoder be
  > going bad, or
  > >    > what else could cause this condition?
  > >    >
  > >    > 73 John AF5CC
  > >    > ----
  > >    > Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC: icom-owner at mailman.qth.net
  > >    > Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz
  > >    > Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/
  > >    > To support QSL/QTH.net: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
  > >
  > > ----
  > > Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC: icom-owner at mailman.qth.net
  > > Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz
  > > Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/
  > > To support QSL/QTH.net: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
  > >
  >
  >
  > --
  > Gary Fiber K8IZ
  > GROL PG-19-6691 with Shipboard Radar Endorsement
  > Washington State Resident
  >
  > ----
  > Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC: icom-owner at mailman.qth.net
  > Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz
  > Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/
  > To support QSL/QTH.net: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

----
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