I didn't put the metal VFO skirt in the bath. I cleaned it with
isopropyl
alcohol and Q-tips. It came out fine; I was worried that the IPA would
take off the paint, but it didn't. The metal disks came out fine.

The VFO skirt had some sort of yellow schmutz on it.

My bath had a few drops of Dawn Ultra.

This ultrasonic cleaner isn't very strong. It's a Harbor Freight
unit.
It will only time to 4 minutes, and it takes maybe 10 shots of that to
clean anything. I've been thinking of retiring it in favor of something
with good reviews on Amazon. There's still a little bit of dirt on the
knobs.
I'll hit them with Q-tips and IPA.

- Jerry

On May 7, 2023, at 12:19 PM, Dan <pitfit@...> wrote:

?

<image0.jpeg>

Dan

WB4GRA

On May 7, 2023, at 11:38 AM, Dan <pitfit@...> wrote:

?As I continue to evaluate the 2-B on the bench here I'm starting to see 2nd tier issues that were not immediately apparent. In this example, the lathed/machined tuning shaft is slightly bent! What could have caused that without causing other significant physical damage to the radio? It's like finding a bent shaft inside a three layer cake!

I noticed the tuning knob has some slight but noticeable up and down and side to side play when rapidly tuning from low to high on a band - some wobble, not concentric. Then I noticed the same wobble in the shaft itself.

This isn't purely cosmetic-get-used-to-it damage. I now suspect the shaft wobble and resulting plus/minus dial string tension, however small, might be the cause of several brief dial slippages when tuning across a band.

what are the chances of finding a parts unit with a tuning shaft to spare? And I'd rather take a beating than restring the dial.

Comments, advice?

Dan
WB4GRA

On May 7, 2023, at 11:38 AM, Dan <pitfit@...> wrote:

?As I continue to evaluate the 2-B on the bench here I'm starting to see 2nd tier issues that were not immediately apparent. In this example, the lathed/machined tuning shaft is slightly bent! What could have caused that without causing other significant physical damage to the radio? It's like finding a bent shaft inside a three layer cake!

I noticed the tuning knob has some slight but noticeable up and down and side to side play when rapidly tuning from low to high on a band - some wobble, not concentric. Then I noticed the same wobble in the shaft itself.

This isn't purely cosmetic-get-used-to-it damage. I now suspect the shaft wobble and resulting plus/minus dial string tension, however small, might be the cause of several brief dial slippages when tuning across a band.

what are the chances of finding a parts unit with a tuning shaft to spare? And I'd rather take a beating than restring the dial.

Comments, advice?

Dan
WB4GRA

Another thing to consider is that if you clean the knobs in an ultrasonic cleaner, the paint will be gone when you’re done.

I’ve been using the putty stick to bring the lines and dots back but am considering going back to paint. Paint is the only way for 2 Line knobs.

Steve Wedge, W1ES/4

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

Sent from Proton Mail for iOS

On Sat, May 6, 2023 at 22:52, Evan via groups.io <[k9sqg@...](mailto:On Sat, May 6, 2023 at 22:52, Evan via groups.io <<a href=)> wrote:

Jerry,

Sounds like you are making good progress.

As to the knobs, one of the antique radio vendors sells a white "putty stick" which one can rub onto/into the indicator lines on the knobs. After rubbing in, the excess can be wiped off with a cloth. For the perfectionist, white paint can be used to repaint the pointers. Sometimes just soaking in soap water and light brushing can restore the brightness but rubbing too hard can remove the paint.

73,

Evan, K9SQG

-----Original Message-----
From: jerry-KF6VB <jerry@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sat, May 6, 2023 10:06 pm
Subject: [DRAKE-RADIO] TR7 Filters and Knobs

So today a care package arrived from Noble Radio. A 450Hz CW filter. A
true work of art. I did not delay in installing it. Had to do some
cleanup on the filter card; somebody had done a messy remove of its
original filters - all except the standard 2.3kHz SSB filter. Possibly
my Ebay seller. After all, why sell an INOP rig full of expensive
separately-saleable filters?

It works great. Single-signal CW reception.

While I was in there, I did the mod that lets the carrier control work
with SSB. It's just one wire tacked to two
terminals on the mode switch.

I also fixed the loose coax terminal I mentioned earlier. It turned
out that the "clip" part had come undone. Now
it's nice & tight.

Then I did something purely cosmetic: pulled off all the knobs and
treated them to an ultrasonic cleaner bath.
Except for the Mode switch and the Aux Program switch. Those don't seem
to have setscrews. How do they come off?

The white paint inside some of the pointer knobs - white paint inside
a groove - is a bit discolored and perished.
I may want to redo it.

- Jerry, KF6VB

On May 7, 2023, at 11:38 AM, Dan <pitfit@...> wrote:

?As I continue to evaluate the 2-B on the bench here I'm starting to see 2nd tier issues that were not immediately apparent. In this example, the lathed/machined tuning shaft is slightly bent! What could have caused that without causing other significant physical damage to the radio? It's like finding a bent shaft inside a three layer cake!

I noticed the tuning knob has some slight but noticeable up and down and side to side play when rapidly tuning from low to high on a band - some wobble, not concentric. Then I noticed the same wobble in the shaft itself.

This isn't purely cosmetic-get-used-to-it damage. I now suspect the shaft wobble and resulting plus/minus dial string tension, however small, might be the cause of several brief dial slippages when tuning across a band.

what are the chances of finding a parts unit with a tuning shaft to spare? And I'd rather take a beating than restring the dial.

Comments, advice?

Dan
WB4GRA

From: "jerry" <jerry@...>
To: "DRAKE-RADIO" <[email protected]>
Cc: "n4buq" <n4buq@...>
Sent: Saturday, May 6, 2023 11:06:07 PM
Subject: Re: [DRAKE-RADIO] 2-B Lights

On 2023-05-06 19:09, n4buq wrote:

Because the factory lighting for the 2-B's dial leaves a bit to be
desired - particularly in the center portions of the dial, I tried
something a little different and mounted a few SMD LEDs

[...]

soldering work. Those 0805 chips are pretty small...

*** There are SMD LEDs out there with pre-soldered leads. People use
them for dollhouses.



I used them to restore the backlight on an Alinco DR-1200T 2-meter
transceiver. The original backlights were grain-of-wheat bulbs,
and they were all burned out. I was able to put two or three of those
tiny LEDs in place of each burned out incandescent.

And yes, they have blue ones.

- Jerry

Another thing to consider is that if you clean the knobs in an ultrasonic cleaner, the paint will be gone when you’re done.

I’ve been using the putty stick to bring the lines and dots back but am considering going back to paint. Paint is the only way for 2 Line knobs.

Steve Wedge, W1ES/4

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

Sent from Proton Mail for iOS

On Sat, May 6, 2023 at 22:52, Evan via groups.io <[k9sqg@...](mailto:On Sat, May 6, 2023 at 22:52, Evan via groups.io <<a href=)> wrote:

Jerry,

Sounds like you are making good progress.

As to the knobs, one of the antique radio vendors sells a white "putty stick" which one can rub onto/into the indicator lines on the knobs. After rubbing in, the excess can be wiped off with a cloth. For the perfectionist, white paint can be used to repaint the pointers. Sometimes just soaking in soap water and light brushing can restore the brightness but rubbing too hard can remove the paint.

73,

Evan, K9SQG

-----Original Message-----
From: jerry-KF6VB <jerry@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sat, May 6, 2023 10:06 pm
Subject: [DRAKE-RADIO] TR7 Filters and Knobs

So today a care package arrived from Noble Radio. A 450Hz CW filter. A
true work of art. I did not delay in installing it. Had to do some
cleanup on the filter card; somebody had done a messy remove of its
original filters - all except the standard 2.3kHz SSB filter. Possibly
my Ebay seller. After all, why sell an INOP rig full of expensive
separately-saleable filters?

It works great. Single-signal CW reception.

While I was in there, I did the mod that lets the carrier control work
with SSB. It's just one wire tacked to two
terminals on the mode switch.

I also fixed the loose coax terminal I mentioned earlier. It turned
out that the "clip" part had come undone. Now
it's nice & tight.

Then I did something purely cosmetic: pulled off all the knobs and
treated them to an ultrasonic cleaner bath.
Except for the Mode switch and the Aux Program switch. Those don't seem
to have setscrews. How do they come off?

The white paint inside some of the pointer knobs - white paint inside
a groove - is a bit discolored and perished.
I may want to redo it.

- Jerry, KF6VB

So today a care package arrived from Noble Radio. A 450Hz CW filter. A
true work of art. I did not delay in installing it. Had to do some
cleanup on the filter card; somebody had done a messy remove of its
original filters - all except the standard 2.3kHz SSB filter. Possibly
my Ebay seller. After all, why sell an INOP rig full of expensive
separately-saleable filters?

It works great. Single-signal CW reception.

While I was in there, I did the mod that lets the carrier control work
with SSB. It's just one wire tacked to two
terminals on the mode switch.

I also fixed the loose coax terminal I mentioned earlier. It turned
out that the "clip" part had come undone. Now
it's nice & tight.

Then I did something purely cosmetic: pulled off all the knobs and
treated them to an ultrasonic cleaner bath.
Except for the Mode switch and the Aux Program switch. Those don't seem
to have setscrews. How do they come off?

The white paint inside some of the pointer knobs - white paint inside
a groove - is a bit discolored and perished.
I may want to redo it.

- Jerry, KF6VB

Jerry,

Sounds like you are making good progress.

As to the knobs, one of the antique radio vendors sells a white "putty stick" which one can rub onto/into the indicator lines on the knobs. ?After rubbing in, the excess can be wiped off with a cloth. ?For the perfectionist, white paint can be used to repaint the pointers. ?Sometimes just soaking in soap water and light brushing can restore the brightness but rubbing too hard can remove the paint.

73,

Evan, K9SQG

-----Original Message-----
From: jerry-KF6VB <jerry@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sat, May 6, 2023 10:06 pm
Subject: [DRAKE-RADIO] TR7 Filters and Knobs

So today a care package arrived from Noble Radio.? A 450Hz CW filter.? A
true work of art.? I did not delay in installing it.? Had to do some
cleanup on the filter card; somebody had done a messy remove of its
original filters - all except the standard 2.3kHz SSB filter.? Possibly
my Ebay seller.? After all, why sell an INOP rig full of expensive
separately-saleable filters?

? It works great.? Single-signal CW reception.

? While I was in there, I did the mod that lets the carrier control work
with SSB.? It's just one wire tacked to two
terminals on the mode switch.

? I also fixed the loose coax terminal I mentioned earlier.? It turned
out that the "clip" part had come undone.? Now
it's nice & tight.

? Then I did something purely cosmetic:? pulled off all the knobs and
treated them to an ultrasonic cleaner bath.
Except for the Mode switch and the Aux Program switch.? Those don't seem
to have setscrews.? How do they come off?

? ? The white paint inside some of the pointer knobs - white paint inside
a groove - is a bit discolored and perished.
I may want to redo it.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? - Jerry, KF6VB