[R-390] KC and MC knobs

Fri, 27 Dec 2002 00:18:38 -0500

John,

Sometimes those KC/MC knob clamp screws need quite a bit of torque to break 
them loose.  With that Bristol "Allen" wrench you are obviously getting a 
long reach into knob by inserting the long arm.  You then get poor leverage 
because all you have left to grab is the short arm.  You can slip a small 
box end (ignition) wrench over the short arm for more torque.  You can also 
turn the short arm with pliers.  Make sure that end of bristol wrench which 
engages screw socket is in good conditon - grind a little off end if 
necessary.  Use a needle to clean out screw socket. You want maximum 
engagement of good splines here.  Bristol screw sockets can take a lot of 
torque this way.  If Bristol wrench slips and you strip out the socket's 
spline you will have a whole new set of problems.

Dan's suggestion of using penetrating oil is a good one.  You may need to 
apply a fair amount so that it runs down over the knob's shaft clamp and 
actually reaches screw threads.  An aerosol can of penetrating oil with 
small red applicator pipe works really well.  No, I didn't say WD-40 either.

Drew

John wrote:
>
>I would like to know if the set screws on the MC and KC knobs are normally
>very hard to break loose. I had my R-390a on the bench since a bias 
>resistor
>in the BFO circuit opened and after replacing it and re-capping the IF 
>deck,
>I decided to remove all the front panel knobs to clean the front panel up 
>as
>I had not done this since I bought the radio this summer. I only have a
>Bristol allen wrench and was not able to budge either one using moderate
>effort. Do these knobs really need a bristol screw driver like the OEM one
>normally provided with the radio to get them off?
<snip>

>From: [email protected]
>Reply-To: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: R-390 digest, Vol 1 #516 - 4 msgs
>Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2002 04:01:57 -0500 (EST)
>
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>
>
>Today's Topics:
>
>    1. Re: WWVB and Automatic Clocks (Jim Shorney)
>    2. RE: Gentlemen ?? (Dave and Sharon Maples)
>    3. KC and MC knobs (John Warren)
>    4. Re: KC and MC knobs (Dan Arney)
>
>--__--__--
>
>Message: 1
>From: "Jim Shorney" <[email protected]>
>To: "Kenneth Crips" <[email protected]>,
>	"[email protected]" <[email protected]>
>Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2002 17:27:09 -0600 (CST)
>Reply-To: "Jim Shorney" <[email protected]>
>Subject: Re: [R-390] WWVB and Automatic Clocks
>
>-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
>
>On Wed, 25 Dec 2002 15:56:22 -0700, Kenneth Crips wrote:
>
> >Go here and most all question concerning "Atomic Clocks" will answered
> >http://www.boulder.nist.gov/timefreq/stations/radioclocks.htm
> >very interesting!
>
>
>Cool!  Thanks, Ken!  The RadShack clock I have is the one pictured in
>the lower right corner.  The other one is a wall clock.
>
>- --
>Jim Shorney      -->.<--Put complaints in this box
>[email protected]
>[email protected]
>Ham Radio NU0C
>Lincoln, NE, USA
>EN10PT
>http://incolor.inetnebr.com/jshorney/
>-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
>Version: 2.6.2
>
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>=K0dT
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>
>
>
>--__--__--
>
>Message: 2
>Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2002 19:06:59 -0500
>From: Dave and Sharon Maples <[email protected]>
>Subject: RE: [R-390] Gentlemen ??
>To: [email protected],
>	"R-390@Mailman. Qth. Net" <[email protected]>
>
>
>Don: Thanks for the gentle reminder.  I never met a ballast tube, or
>anything else for that matter, that justified being insulting to someone.
>
>I'm perfectly willing to consider alternatives to a ballast tube, and if
>someone wants to develop a complicated solid-state version of one (or, 
>worse
>yet, one that is DSP-based, with an 802.11b Ethernet connection for Web
>monitoring of its vital functions), then have at it.  Mind you, I'll
>probably shop around for a replacement ballast (or go the power resistor
>route) or something else, but this is a HOBBY, and if someone wants to 
>enjoy
>themselves by building a ballast-tube replacement, well and good.  I
>probably won't be interested in purchasing one, but I'll certainly enjoy
>discussing the circuit design with him.
>
>I'm just grateful for the folks on this list who know something about these
>wonderful receivers...mine works better than it ever has thanks to the
>suggestions made here.
>
>Dave Maples, WB4FUR
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]On
>Behalf Of Don Reaves W5OR
>Sent: Wednesday, December 25, 2002 10:55 AM
>To: R-390@Mailman. Qth. Net
>Subject: [R-390] Gentlemen ??
>
>
>
>Let me remind you all of the zero tolerance for ugliness here.  Remember,
>this is a technical forum, where technical ideas are bandied about.  Leave
>the mud-slinging elsewhere.
>
>Happy holidays!
>
>------------------------------------
>Don Reaves  R-390 list administrator
><mailto:[email protected]>
>R-390 Mailing List Rules:
>1.  Stay on topic
>2.  Be civil and courteous
>------------------------------------
>
>
>
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>
>--__--__--
>
>Message: 3
>Reply-To: "John Warren" <[email protected]>
>From: "John Warren" <[email protected]>
>To: <[email protected]>
>Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2002 21:52:20 -0600
>Subject: [R-390] KC and MC knobs
>
>I would like to know if the set screws on the MC and KC knobs are normally
>very hard to break loose. I had my R-390a on the bench since a bias 
>resistor
>in the BFO circuit opened and after replacing it and re-capping the IF 
>deck,
>I decided to remove all the front panel knobs to clean the front panel up 
>as
>I had not done this since I bought the radio this summer. I only have a
>Bristol allen wrench and was not able to budge either one using moderate
>effort. Do these knobs really need a bristol screw driver like the OEM one
>normally provided with the radio to get them off?
>
>By the way, I also did the SSB AGC mod while I was in the IF deck and I am
>amazed at the difference in the AGC operation on both SSB as well as CW.
>Thanks to Dallas Lankford for coming up with this and to those who have it
>included on the their web sites. I am really glad I found the thread on it
>in the archives that are posted on the web.
>
>73, and thanks for any suggestions,
>
>John K5QX
>
>
>
>--__--__--
>
>Message: 4
>Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2002 21:00:54 -0800
>From: Dan Arney <[email protected]>
>Subject: Re: [R-390] KC and MC knobs
>To: John Warren <[email protected]>
>Cc: [email protected]
>Organization: Global Pack & Mail
>
>John, Take a toothpick and dip it in some penetrating oil and get a few
>to run down the bristol wrench while is seated in the head so the oil
>goes on the threads. let it set for a while, the tap the top of the
>bristol lightly while applying force to turn it out. No I did not say 
>WD-40.
>Hank
>KN6DI
>
>
>
>
>
>--__--__--
>
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>
>End of R-390 Digest

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