[R-390] Non fitting gears

[Barry Hauser]

Hi Roy & crew

I already recommended the ballpoint pen spring idea privately.  They may not 
have exactly the right parametric characteristics, but .. highly available.

Have to caution against option #2 as stated.  You instructed to go to the 
local hobby store with the broken spring.  This will subject instructee to 
risk of ill treatment, as in Old Joke #340-299433, sub-part Q.  "Home 
mechanic walks into auto parts store and holds up grungy, grease-dripping, 
cruddy broken part and says "Got any of these?". To which, slack-jawed, 
war-weary counter clerk hauls out a grimy box and dumps it out on the 
counter --- and a whole mess of dirty broken parts of the same kind spill 
out, as he replies "Yeah, I got a hundred of 'em.".

Lesson being -- remove one of the good springs and take that to the store. 
But as advised, put horse blinders on first so you will not be attracted to 
the myriad small parts -- or worse -- become afflicted by a one or more 
additional expensive hobbies.  Ideas may creep into your brain before you 
can do anything about it -- like "Geee, I could stack up the radios like 
buildings and run the HO layout around 'em."  Or, worse yet, when you 
mention to the store guy that it's spring for a radio and get to talking 
about R-390's and the like, he will haul out the most elaborate, control 'n 
meter festooned piece o' gear and mosey on over to the servo's and say 
something like "You mean you're into radios but not RADIO CONTROL!!!???" 
Let's see now,the spring is 25 cents, tum-te-tum, the Zorchmaster-8-Channel 
is $799.95, the five servo's at $89.99 a pop, the 1/8th scale B-29....  four 
engines.  Wadditya say your credit limit is on this card? By the way, these 
are 3 times more powerful than your weedwacker.  "

You better check the junk drawer for plastic ballpoints.  Somebody mail him 
a couple of springs.  If Collin gets infected, the rest of us will be at 
risk.  Hmmmmm..... there are computer controlled radios -- how about radio 
controlled radios?  Ya see....

Barry




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Roy Morgan" <roy.morgan at nist.gov>
To: <n4tua at aol.com>; <R-390 at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2005 12:00 PM
Subject: Re: [R-390] Non fitting gears


> At 04:16 AM 7/21/2005, you wrote:
>>
>>Now on to the next problem.... Does anyone know the specifications for the 
>>small springs that hold the split gears tight? I have broken one quite by 
>>accident. I will either need a new one or a used replacement.
>
> Collin,
>
> I think someone on the list has some spares.  But:
>
> If you get a spring out and figure out what it's characteristics are, do 
> this:
>
> 1) take apart any ball point pens you find to see if those springs would 
> work.
>
> 2) Go off to your local hobby store with the broken spring and put it down 
> on the counter in front of the store person who looks most knowledgeable. 
> You know, the model airplane and railroad store.  Warning: while you are 
> there, do not approach the tiny nuts and bolts display, the racks of metal 
> rods and tubes, and the paint and finishes section. If you do, you are in 
> serious danger of spending lots more money that you had planned to.
>
> 3) See Small Parts, Inc, for replacements if you can't find anything.
> http://www.smallparts.com/
>
> Roy
> Who couldn't stand to put the ill-mating gears back in a radio till they 
> were fixed.
>
>
> - Roy Morgan, K1LKY since 1959 - Keep 'em Glowing!
> 7130 Panorama Drive, Derwood MD 20855
> Home: 301-330-8828 Cell 301-928-7794
> Work: Voice: 301-975-3254,  Fax: 301-948-6213
> roy.morgan at nist.gov --
>
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