[Milsurplus] GRC-9 unpleasant surprise

[David Stinson]

From:  Hubert Miller
Subject: [Milsurplus] GRC-9 unpleasant surprise

Surprise! The knob rotated 360. I pulled the knob out. It was still attached
to a piece of the bandswitch. The 
bandswitch apparently snapped ! How does this happen ???
"Owooooo"  ( sound of howling at the moon. )
-Hue 

-----------------------------
What likely happened was whomever handled the rig before
you, gorilla-ed the old, stuck bandswitch.  
A person with your years in our interests certainly knows
to handle all the controls of an un-restored radio gently
and with due observation and caution. But most of the herd
out there doesn't understand that.  I learned this 
lesson "the hard way."

Many times at hamfests I've watched Joe Strongarm walk-up
to some poor radio fresh from 26 years in the barn, grab
the band switch and "rackity-rack!"  CRING.....
Band switchs are fragile, get stuck like any other 
switch and are wicked hard to find and replace.  Even
a "robust" band switch like that in the TCS can have 
stuck contacts; I've repaired a few and others here
can tell you of bent and broken TCS band switch 
contacts from Magilla Gorilla thoughtlessly cranking them.

When I get a radio on the bench, I don't crank on
controls until I've opened it, inspected, lubed and 
cleaned them.  Any bandswitch gets an inspection,
lubrication of its mechanical parts, then gentle pressure
and observation to see it any parts are sticking
before contact cleaning.  Close inspection of 
band switches is extra important; they can crack.
A cracked switch can often be reinforced.
Cranking on a cracked switch is going to result 
in a broken switch and darken one's day.

73 OM DE Dave AB5S