[R-390] Meter repair/RF xfmr repair

[pete williams]

RE R-390A

1.     A couple of  comments--- might  be useful to the  intrepid.    I have a  carrier 
meter Simpson brand  that, unusually, had the  2  screws holding on the scale plate very 
loose and hindering the meter needle. Getting to it meant disassembly via  the  front  and 
seeing that meter is labelled  'sealed do not open', this provided a  challenge. Removing 
the  8  screws  from  front gives  access to the  dial  glass which of  course is  firmly 
fixed. Figuring that if the meter is  sealed it should have  air  within. Application of 
the  hot  air gun might  expand the  air; loosen any glue  and the  glass might pop out. 
It  did. ---  screws  tightened ,glass replaced and the  next generation or  two won't 
know the  difference. Maybe  someone  has a better idea, although most folks  won't be 
wanting to open meters.
2.  I found  another RF  antenna  xfmr wouldn't  peak on  alinement.. --- nothing  wrong 
with the  coil primary but the  trimmer  cap  and fibre plate burnt --- too much RF from 
somewhere. The trimmer and parts can be  replaced  with  care after  disassembly  but 
check the thin insulating  wafers at the  base of the   capacitor.. if they rotate  and 
not  firmly  glued to the  fibre  plate tuning  anomalies  eventuate . Maybe  Fair have 
replacements but  they're not close by here !

Pete D..Williams
METUNG, 3904
AUSTRALIA