[R-390] Cleaning

[ToddRoberts2001@aol.com]

<PRE>I have had good luck cleaning a grungy R-390A RF Deck geartrain by soaking 
the whole works + counter dial  in a large plastic tub of Kerosene for a few 
days, after removing the RF Transformers and slug racks. Do not allow 
Kerosene to come in contact with the small ceramic RF Trimmer caps in the RF 
Transformers - it can cause the rubber-like gasket material between the rotor 
and stator to swell up. I found that out the hard way! Best to keep the RF 
Transformers dry! Otherwise the Kerosene seems to be safe for all the other 
components in the RF Deck. The Kerosene removed the worst kind of dried-up 
grease and dirt+sand between the gears. I would periodically brush the gears 
and shafts and all the  nooks and crannies with a stiff paint brush while the 
assembly was submerged in the Kerosene. After about 2 or 3 days of this I 
would remove the assembly and place it in another tub with a 32:1 mixture of 
Kerosene and Pennzoil SAE 75W-90 Synthetic gear lube. I would let it soak in 
this tub for another day then remove the assembly and place it on a clean 
towel in front of a dehumidifier for about a day. After the Kerosene 
evaporates there is a thin film of the synthetic oil left soaked into all the 
gears and bearings and all the works. The RF Deck looks brand new. Some 
people say not to use Kerosene as a solvent but it is relatively safe to 
handle, is non-conductive, does not harm components (except the rubber 
gaskets in those small ceramic RF Trimmer Caps) and evaporates completely 
leaving no residue and all the parts looking shiny and new. Does this method 
sound OK? I wonder if anyone has used one of those automotive-type parts 
washers that recirculates a cleaning solvent? 73 Todd Roberts WD4NGG.