[Milsurplus] Naval radio experts: captive screws and other mysteries

[Fred Olsen]

Todd wrote:
> Those little round clips on the back look mighty miserable
> to remove, doesn't appear to be any way to get them off without
> trashing them.

Todd, I have no knowledge of Navy radios, but.  Are the 'round clips' 
you describe in the form of a very thin washer which fits the diameter 
of the screw closely?  If so I think you'll find a radial split in the 
washer at some point around the diameter.  The retainer washer is 
installed and removed by starting the appropriate side of the split into 
the screw's thread as one would a nut.

The washer/retainers are spring steel and are designed to thread on and 
off and then spring back to a flat form once past the thread and on to 
the reduced diameter of the screw's shank.  There is, of course, a 
special tool for it but a small nosed pliers will do the job with care 
and patience and without destruction.  If you get it started on the 
thread but it tends to bind remember to drive it around by pushing on 
the trailing side of the split, to open the inside diameter a bit.
Here's one manufacturer, of many.
http://www.accuratescrew.com/CatalogPage.aspx?ProdCat=WSHPNLRTN1
(See the sketch, ignore the picture.)

> Also curious about the secret behind those gray rubber-coated toggle
> switches. How in the heck does one get the rubber off to change a
> switch? Do they make replacement rubbers?

If you're talking about a switch boot over the toggle, it's a separate 
part.  It has its own molded-in hex nut and is replaceable.
This is the most usual of the usual suspects.
http://www.apmhexseal.com/switchboots/switch_toggle.htm

Good luck,
Fred
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