[R-390] Clutch!

[Flowertime01 at wmconnect.com]

Fellows,

The zero adjust clutch has no "adjustment" they either work or do not work.
The different production runs had different "feels" to the adjustment.

The critters did and do get dirty, mostly they were "washed" and "run dry" 
with a minimum of oil. 

The disk on the zero adjust shaft does not have such a good shaft bearing. 
This has always been a point of friction in the design.

You can read the TM and take the clutch apart if you need to really get one 
clean (you may have to). Otherwise you hung the RF deck off the edge of the 
bench and sprayed liberal amounts of your favorite solvent through the gear train 
and followed with compressed air to blow dry. Mobil synthetic oil is now the 
relube of choice.

The clutches all sort of had a different feel. Some would open up and roll 
nice, others just felt like they dragged. We never did any thing about them in 
the service. The zero adjust was a go no go item. It did or did not function. 
when the receivers were much younger a good wash and  lube got them back into a 
passing condition. No disassembly was required. Considering the age and where 
some of these receivers have been, a one time disassembly and cleaning could 
very well be in order.

I see some on the market trying to tell me I need to go an extra C on a 
receiver that has a smooth zero adjust and knobs that do not induce tunnel carpo 
and I may need a few minutes to pick my butt back up off the floor and stop 
snickering.

Real R390's needed work to operate and were part of every operators personal 
physical fitness program. A day cranking a R390 and you bend an elbow to get a 
few beers disposed of.

Roger KC6TRU