[R-390] Re; StuckR-390A VFO

[Paul H. Anderson]

On Sat, 21 Apr 2007, W Gladhart III wrote:

> Thanks Cecil and Paul for the responses. For clarification; The VFO is 
> completely out, the plates are off (the coupler spring is long gone) and 
> there is no sign of corrosion (yet.)  I backed the cover off the beat up 
> Fair unit and saw the 2 pairs of wires being pulled tight and quit. I 
> suppose I just mark them and unsolder to continue removal? The main 
> reason I hoped to save my original is it's visually clean like it was 
> built last year and it is a Collins ( I've drank the koolaid!) I have 
> tried twisting the shaft with a small pair of pliers, knowing I 
> shouldn't need too much force to turn it. I guess I'll dive into the 
> dissassembly but if you fellas are right, I guess I'm in the market for 
> a good, checked spare.  Any sources?  The one I got from Fair is by far 
> the worst piece of junkbox filler they've ever sold me but they did say 
> it was "dented with cut wires..."

When pulling the cover back, the two wires are VFO heater wires - they can 
safely be unsoldered, then the whole mess removed.  Some people remove the 
whole mess and toss it, because the VFO doesn't usually benefit from the 
heater being on.  There is a benefit, it is just a small one for most 
users (the radio was designed to operate in artic and desert regions 
equally well and remain stable across them).  Plus, NOS looking or not, no 
one is going to see inside the cover if you put it back on when fixed!

I know what you mean about wanting to save the unit.  You might get lucky 
and track it down - heck you've really got nothing to lose!

Paul