[MRCA] [spam] Re: [ARC5] ARC-5 Tuning Cable

[Michael Hanz]

That's a fair question, Cliff.  The answer is "sometimes", at least in 
my experience.  Removing the spline drive end is usually simple due to 
its connection to the spline adapter with a tapered pin.  I usually 
replace the pin with a roll pin to make it easier to take apart "the 
next time".  Tapered pins are sometimes reluctant to let go, or if you 
guess wrong and start pounding on it with a pin driver the wrong way, it 
just will not like to ever come out...   I included a whole lot of data 
on fabricating these cables at 
https://aafradio.org/garajmahal/flex_drive_cables.html and included a 
link to a similar Philco page at 
https://aafradio.org/garajmahal/Philco.html .  The process that Philco 
used to determine the length of the interior drive cable was to cut the 
outer sheath to the correct length and install it in the final 
configuration in the aircraft (or your shack), then temporarily install, 
mark, and cut the inner drive cable to the perfect length.  That works 
much better than the ARC recommendation of adding 3/8" per foot of 
length to the drive cable, sometimes resulting in the situation shown in 
Mark's photo.

Because of options for crimping or soldering the drive cable to the 
spline adapters, it may be more difficult to make adjustments after the 
fact.  Each case is different because of variations in the spline 
adapter, but it usually has to be sacrificed to shorten the drive 
cable.  Fortunately those are easy to make on a small lathe.

- Mike  KC4TOS

On 1/28/2026 3:42 PM, Cliff Miller wrote:
> In general, was disassembly or maintenance of these cables possible in 
> the field?  Has anyone of us (Command Set Hobbyists) ever shortened 
> one successfully?
>
> Cliff Miller KC4HGR
> cliff52 at gmail.com
>
>
> On Wed, Jan 28, 2026 at 3:33 PM Mark K3MSB <mark.k3msb at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>     That was the first thing I tried.....  didn't do anything.
>
>
>     On Wed, Jan 28, 2026 at 2:50 PM <scottjohnson1 at cox.net> wrote:
>
>         Seems normal to me.  Try pulling the sheath taught , the end
>         should retract in properly.
>
>         Scott W7SVJ
>
>         *From:*mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net
>         <mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net> *On Behalf Of *Mark K3MSB
>         *Sent:* Wednesday, January 28, 2026 11:36 AM
>         *To:* ARC5 <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>; Military Radio Collectors
>         Association (mrca at mailman.qth.net) <mrca at mailman.qth.net>;
>         List Milsurplus <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>
>         *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
>
>     ______________________________________________________________
>     ARC5 mailing list
>     Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/arc5
>     Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>     Post: mailto:ARC5 at mailman.qth.net
>
>     This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>     Please help support this email list: https://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> ARC5 mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/arc5
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:ARC5 at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: https://www.qsl.net/donate.html