[R-390] R390A meters

[JRFKE5RI at aol.com]

Here is a suggestion for meter repair tools.  They are  cheap, easy to make 
and they work.
 
For untangling and repairing hair springs:
 
Take a sewing needle and using a cutoff wheel, like a Dremel  tool, cut of 
the very tip of the eye so that the end is open.  Now cut  the end off of a 
miniature, wood handled paint brush - the kind  that is used for painting models.  
Press the sharp end of the modified  needle into the handle.  Now you have a 
tiny tool that is perfect for  working with the hair spring.
 
For maneuvering pivots, etc, make a similar tool with a  straight pin.  Take 
the little ball of the end of the pin.  Push that  end, the dull end, into 
another wooden paint brush handle.  Now you  have a tiny, precision pointed 
instrument. 
 
When disassembling meter movements, cleanliness is absolutely  essential.  I 
put the parts on piece of white paper.  Most  damaging are tiny ferrous metal 
fragments.  As you know, they  WILL end up in the magnetic gap!  As previously 
stated by others, scotch  tape is the cleaning tool of choice.
 
Good luck.
 
John Felton
KE5RI