Years ago, I had the same problem with an MC-124 flex shaft used on the ARN-6 and 7.  It was new and coated with preservative. I coated it well with light lube oil and baked it in an oven to about 150 degrees. Then I put on gloves and worked it carefully to loosen up the spiral. The core then retracted and it worked fine and I wiped off the excess oil.  I think the original lube had solidified into gum and varnish.

      B. Gentry, KA2IVY

That was the first thing I tried.....  didn't do anything.

On Wed, Jan 28, 2026 at 2:50 PM <[email protected]> wrote:

Seems normal to me.  Try pulling the sheath taught , the end should retract in properly.

 

Scott W7SVJ

 

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Mark K3MSB
Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2026 11:36 AM
To: ARC5 <[email protected]>; Military Radio Collectors Association ([email protected]) <[email protected]>; List Milsurplus <[email protected]>
Subject: [MRCA] ARC-5 Tuning Cable

 

Hi All

 

Recently I received several tuning cables and one is rather odd;

 

The cable looks to be fine and undamaged.   Perhaps this particular cable was used for a specific purpose?

 

73 Mark K3MSB

 

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