[R-390] Damaged Pins on Z221 and Z214

[Barry]

Jacques,

I looked in the sockets and didn't see the remains of that spring.  I don't see it anywhere on my workbench either.  When I removed all the coils and transformers so I could clean the deck and gears better, I remember seeing it was missing at that time.  I suspect it was missing before I got the radio.

I thought about soldering as well.  I don't think there's much left of that original "pin" that was used to secure the mini-banana plug's springs.  There is enough left, though, that might allow soldering.

Thanks for the tips,
Barry - N4BUQ

> Barry, if the contact spring missing in the Z221 was not left in the
> matching socket, your best option is effectively to steal the contact spring
> from the center pin and soldering it to the top left one.
> Z221 is an essential part of the 1st variable IF (9.5 to 17.5 MHz).
> 
> These contacts looks like dwarf-sized banana plugs.
> All the ones in my own R-390 were found OK, but I remember about another
> member of the group seeking advice for the same kind of problem few years
> ago.
> If you can effectively solder the "liberated" 4 leaf spring contact from the
> center pin to the left top contact, you only need that Z221 be put back in
> place to achieve a proper contact.
> 
> Other solutions can be tried, like making a new spring from thin brass
> stock.
> Or using a small screw in the tiny hole you planned to make.
> I nevertheless believe that soldering will be sufficient.
> 
> Another area that was improved with the "A" version...
> 
> 73, Jacques, VE2JFE in Montreal
> 
> After thinking about it a while, I'm wondering if I can remove the "riveted"
> top from that unused center pin on Z221 which would release that
> spring-fingered mechanism from that pin.  If so, I could move that to the
> pin that is used and then peen that center part where it would mushroom over
> the spring fingered part.  There's not much left of the center part that can
> be "mushroomed" so that might not work; however, I could also drill a tiny
> hole in the end of that pin and drive tiny rivet-shaped pin in that could
> hold the spring fingered part in place.  Tedious and fraught with problems
> but, aside from finding a replacement, it might be my best bet.
> 
> Barry - N4BUQ
> 
>> (Resending using plain text.)
>> 
>> I started reassembling the coils in the RF deck of my R-390 and
>> discovered some damage the one of the pins on Z221 (upper left pin in
>> the first image attached).  The spring contact assembly is missing
>> entirely.  I notice that the center pin is not connected inside the
>> housing but I think it would be a significant effort to try to remove
>> both pins and replace the bad one with the good one.
>> 
>> When I disassembled Z214, I noticed one of the small fingers had
>> broken off (second image attached).  The finger was left where the
>> coil plugs in and I saved the finger.  I may have rocked the can just
>> a little too much (it was very difficult to remove) and that may have
>> broken that finger.  While I think that pin will still make sufficient
>> contact, I may still try to solder that finger in place.
>> 
>> What are my possible options for Z221?  I presume there's not a stash
>> of those coils (Z219, Z220, Z221 as I think they're all the same?)
>> somewhere.  Any ideas?
>> 
>> Something tells me the combination of the broken slug I repaired and
>> getting
>> Z221 properly connected (and a fresh alignment) will make quite a
>> difference for this radio.
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> Barry - N4BUQ