[R-390] RF deck removal

[Roger Ruszkowski]

Alan,
 
You wrote, ----------------------------
I am going to have to pull the front panel off the gear train. This requires removing the veeder root counter and some small gears etc.
---------------------------------
 
Not true.
 
The bezel (black box with micro scope glass slide as a window) comes off with the front panel.
The veeder root counter and its gears are mounted to the front of the gear train.
You do not have to undo any of the counter parts to remove the panel.


But some more things to look at.

You do have to loosen the dial lock and rotate it.
First time around just take the knob off the dial lock and remove the bushing nut
on the dial lock and let it fall loose. As you drop the front panel it will fall out.
Then you get a look at what's going on so you can loosely hand the dial lock back into
the front panel for reassembly.

One of the Fellows pointed out that you also have to pull a wire harness clamp loose on the bottom
in front of the audio deck near the local line pot from the front to back frame panel between the
VFO and the audio decks. This is where you reach in with the long #1 Philips screw driver.
You will need this slack. Do this first then,

If you are going to pull the RF deck also remove the spring to the VFO Oldham coupler.

Use a couple blocks of 2x2 or 2x4 under the side rails to prop the front panel off the bench.


Two big knobs.
Dial lock.
Antenna trim knob.
IF band width switch extension shaft clamp.
BFO pitch extension shaft clamp.
Dial lock.
Wire harness clamp.
five 8 x32 face plate bolts three under BFO band width knobs, two more between line gain and KC knob.
Eight 10 x32 four down each front rail. Again the slender Philips screw drive lets you reach around the guard rails (not handles, used as handles)


If you have a burr on the KHZ or MHZ shafts and the panel bushings will not slide over the burr, you can take the nuts
off the bushings and leave the bushing on the shaft until you have time to hone the burr off the shaft. 
On reassembly you loosen the bushings and re center than as needed.

There are also three green screws along the back of the RF deck with tight clearance that must be loosened, they are captive.
The long 6 - 10 inch small diameter Philips screw driver is the preferred tool for this task.

Total time to drop a front panel under fifteen minutes with beverage.

Roger AI4NI