[R-390] Gear Train Removal

[Thomas Hoyer]

 I do the "WD40" Bath to clean the gear trains. I get a big can, remove the RF deck, Place it over a pan and start spraying. I'll use a tooth brush, acid brush, q-tips or whatever needed to help clean the hard to get to areas. The WD40 does a good job at breaking up the old grease / lube. Once everything is loosened up and turning freely I'll let it sit for a day to let the WD40 drip off and go back and lubricate the pivot / rotating points. Right or wrong, I do not lube the gear teeth. I'll end up using pretty much the whole can.
Just did a 390A for a local guy. Tuning was hard and clunky. After the above described treatment it is now very smooth. Owner was very impressed!
TomW3TA


    On Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at 12:39:20 AM EDT, Larry Haney <larry41gm2 at gmail.com> wrote:   

 Hi all,  I've had a bunch with over lubed or incorrectly lubed gears,
tuning racks and cams, and a few under lubed digital readouts, but
fortunately nothing so bad as to seriously impair operation.  I guess I've
been lucky.  And no worn gears.

Regards, Larry

On Mon, Sep 2, 2024 at 8:16 PM Jim Whartenby via R-390 <
r-390 at mailman.qth.net> wrote:

> I think that the tendency is to over do gear lubrication, not under do
> it.  The Preliminary R-390 manual says "It must be remembered that over
> lubrication can cause more harm then no lubrication."  I tend to agree
> having bought an R-390A from the late Hank Arney that was so over greased,
> the kc and mc knobs were frozen.  A lot of solvent, detergent and denatured
> alcohol using an acid brush mounted on a dowel to get deep into the gear
> works finally freed the binding.  There was no need to do a complete
> teardown.
>
> Our brother collectors of clocks do not lube gear teeth, just pivot
> points, and sparingly.  The thought is that grease attracts dust and dirt
> which does more harm then good.  In the half dozen R-390A I have reworked,
> I have yet to find a worn gear.  Has anyone?
>
> YMMV,
> Jim
> Logic: Method used to arrive at the wrong conclusion, with confidence.
> Murphy
>
>    On Monday, September 2, 2024 at 05:55:29 PM CDT, Barry <
> n4buq at knology.net> wrote:
>
>  While I have the RF Deck out, I'm going to clean and lubricate the gears,
> rollers, etc.  Reading the manual, apparently the from "apron" of the gear
> train can be removed without all that much difficulty.  If I remove that
> apron, do the gears stay with the main part of the deck or does some of
> them come off with the apron?
>
> I'm asking because, while I'm still considering a complete teardown (which
> is just a bit more daunting than the A model which I've done before), it
> might be good enough if I can maximize the exposure of the gears and just
> settle for cleaning/lubing them in situ.  Any comments on that?
>
> Thanks,
> Barry - N4BUQ
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