[R-390] R-390 - Very Basic Question Re: Front Panel removal

[k1jos at att.net]

With the radio resting bottom up, after removing the subset of knobs you mentioned, ideally if I could flip back the front panel and connected harnesses then access would to the zero clutch would be fairly easy.   But on my radio many of the wires in the harness are very brittle, cracked insulation.  I've had to place heat shrink tubing over some where bare wire was visible, so I'm afraid that any flex on the two main harnesses would likely cause further wire fraying.  I will see how laying on its  side and tilting the front panel will work.

-----Original Message-----
From: Barry <n4buq at knology.net> 
Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2024 12:12 PM
To: k1jos <k1jos at att.net>
Cc: R-390 Mailing List <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [R-390] R-390 - Very Basic Question Re: Front Panel removal

As long as you don't lean the radio towards the top or bottom, the center shelf should be sufficient to support the sides.  I'd think it would be much, much easier to work on the clutch with the front panel removed.  There's just a subset of knobs that have to be removed to do that (MEGACYCLE CHANGE, KC CHANGE, BANDWIDTH, BFO PITCH, and ANT TRIM).  BANDWIDTH and BFO PITCH may be best to remove using the clamps on the shafts coming out of the IF deck.

Good luck with it,
Barry - N4BUQ

> I need to repair the zero adjust clutch plates, they are stuck 
> together.  I have tried Kroil and WD-40 and physical torsion by hand 
> but no joy.  I need to work with the radio upside down and front panel 
> off to remove the clutch gear and tension plates.  I know I can do 
> this by removing all of the front panel knobs, meters, etc but I could 
> also manage by unbolting the front panel and having the radio resting 
> on it side.  As I start doing this I realized without the front panel, 
> the side panels have little physical support and may bend under the 
> weight of the radio.  Does anyone have any advice how to best manage 
> this repair?  At my age (76) I can just manage moving the radio around 
> on the workbench, but I am very concerned not to get into a position that causes damage to the panels and RF tracking systems.
> 
> 
> 
> Thanks in advance.
> 
> 
> 
> Jerry NY2KW
> 
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