[R-390] Today I Tweaked my PTO endpoint and lubed gear train.

Phil Atchley [email protected]
Wed, 23 Jul 2003 20:45:33 -0000


Hi

After having used it for a week or so the end point had changed about =
1KHz.
This gradually occurred during the first couple days of use after the =
set
was put into full operation at the primary operating position and hadn't
changed since.  So today I removed the PTO and tweaked it back to where =
it
was.  Linearity was still good after putting it back.  This doesn't =
surprise
me any as I kind of figured it might change a little after the set was =
run
many hours in its cabinet.  It is probably the nail polish I used on the
coils etc curing.  It was baked for a short period but doubt that took =
care
of all curing.  I suspect it won't happen again, at least not for quite =
a
long time.=20

Then, I went down to the auto parts store and bought a Quart (!!) of
Valvolene DuraBlend (synthetic blend) 85W-140 gear oil.  When I got it =
the
gear train of this R-390A was the cleanest one I've ever seen.  It had
either been VERY thoroughly degreased, and not re-lubed in it's past or =
it
had never been lubed.  While it was quite "free" in movement and fairly
smooth I felt it could be a lot better as you could just feel that it =
needed
a little lube.  It seemed to have "sticky" spots where the tuning wasn't
quite so free.  I suspect it may have been "degreased" as, when I got it
most of the rack rollers were bound up, some not turning at all or very
stiff.  They were taken care of when I went through the RF deck, along =
with
a very light coat of Valvolene DuraBlend grease on the inner surfaces =
the
racks rub against. =20

Anyway, after using a toothbrush and a artists paintbrush (I buy
"throw-a-ways" at Ace Hardware for 29 cents each, buy them by the dozen =
for
odd jobs) to apply a light coat of the gear oil to all the gear teeth,
planetary gears, 10 turn stops etc.  I'd dip the toothbrush in the oil, =
hold
it against a gears teeth and "tune" the set.  After everything was oiled =
I
used a small cloth on seizers to soak up any residue or excess so it
wouldn't run where I didn't want it to.  This is my first experience =
with
the gear oil and I'm not sure how well it'll stay "put", but the set is
MUCH, MUCH smoother in it's tuning (It wasn't too shabby before) and =
doesn't
have any "sticky" spots in it's tuning.     =20

73 de Phil, KO6BB

****************************************************
*  DXing THE WORLD WITH THE FOLLOWING EQUIPMENT.   *
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