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Group, In an R4C the PTO is electronically stable but that 'silky smooth' tuning is not happening.? It takes extra force to tune the PTO (as compared to my T4XC) and feels like something grabbing or resisting.
Without pulling all of the gears apart, where should I start looking for what's grabbing?
Thanks & 73 Jay W6CJ
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My guess is that the vernier drive has a lubricant that has hardened over the years. ? Same could be true of the PTO screw. ?Let's hear what the experts say...
Group, In an R4C the PTO is electronically stable but that 'silky smooth' tuning is not happening.? It takes extra force to tune the PTO (as compared to my T4XC) and feels like something grabbing or resisting.
Without pulling all of the gears apart, where should I start looking for what's grabbing?
Thanks & 73 Jay W6CJ
|
Jay;
There are many reasons that can contribute to "grabbing" or "sticky" tuning on the C-line dials.? Often there can be more than one reason.? Full teardown is always my choice but I understand that can be?a daunting task to face for the 1st time.??
Before doing that I would recommend?reading and studying two articles. Both are on WB4HFN's website.
The first is by Neil, K1VY;
The 2nd is by me, and can be found here;
It starts on Page 15.
If pulling the PTO seems a bit much, you could try cleaning out the front bearing with long Q-tips and rubbing alcohol.? You will need at least a half?dozen swabs to get it clean.? Once clean, re-lube with a light grease.? I prefer copper infused moly grease these days, but have used white lithium in the past.? Both work well for me.? Unfortunately?one often finds burrs on the 1/4" steel PTO shaft, or on the brass busing it slides into, as well as old stiff grease on the PTO gears. Full disassembly is required to address these issues.
I cannot stress enough to take a picture at EVERY step of the removal process.? You won't regret it afterwards.? There are four different mechanical styles I have documented produced during the C-line run....and despite having disassembled at least 30 of those now, I can still get easily confused when trying to get them back together again. Pictures?REALLY help!
Good luck!
73 Peter VE7PS
My guess is that the vernier drive has a lubricant that has hardened over the years. ? Same could be true of the PTO screw.? Let's hear what the experts say...
On Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 10:07:53 PM EST, Jay W6CJ via <lastradioman= [email protected]> wrote:
Group, In an R4C the PTO is electronically stable but that 'silky smooth' tuning is not happening.? It takes extra force to tune the PTO (as compared to my T4XC) and feels like something grabbing or resisting.
Without pulling all of the gears apart, where should I start looking for what's grabbing?
Thanks & 73 Jay W6CJ
|
I agree with everything Peter has listed except that I use mineral spirits for the ball bearings and their race.?
I will add that you won¡¯t get the PTO to be as light and smooth as the earlier designs but you can come close ¡ª especially with the ¡°metal gears¡± version (there are still one or two nylon gears in a ¡°metal gears¡± PTO).?
Be very careful to put any nylon washers back where they originally were. The locations and thicknesses of these washers can vary ¡ª they were used to fine-tune the geartrain.?
73,
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
On Wed, Dec 18, 2024 at 23:10, VE7PS via groups.io < ve7ps@...> wrote:
Jay;
There are many reasons that can contribute to "grabbing" or "sticky" tuning on the C-line dials.? Often there can be more than one reason.? Full teardown is always my choice but I understand that can be?a daunting task to face for the 1st time.??
Before doing that I would recommend?reading and studying two articles. Both are on WB4HFN's website.
The first is by Neil, K1VY;
The 2nd is by me, and can be found here;
It starts on Page 15.
If pulling the PTO seems a bit much, you could try cleaning out the front bearing with long Q-tips and rubbing alcohol.? You will need at least a half?dozen swabs to get it clean.? Once clean, re-lube with a light grease.? I prefer copper infused moly grease these days, but have used white lithium in the past.? Both work well for me.? Unfortunately?one often finds burrs on the 1/4" steel PTO shaft, or on the brass busing it slides into, as well as old stiff grease on the PTO gears. Full disassembly is required to address these issues.
I cannot stress enough to take a picture at EVERY step of the removal process.? You won't regret it afterwards.? There are four different mechanical styles I have documented produced during the C-line run....and despite having disassembled at least 30 of those now, I can still get easily confused when trying to get them back together again. Pictures?REALLY help!
Good luck!
73
Peter
VE7PS
My guess is that the vernier drive has a lubricant that has hardened over the years. ? Same could be true of the PTO screw.? Let's hear what the experts say...
On Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 10:07:53 PM EST, Jay W6CJ via
<lastradioman=
[email protected]> wrote:
Group,
In an R4C the PTO is electronically stable but that 'silky smooth' tuning is not happening.? It takes extra force to tune the PTO (as compared to my T4XC) and feels like something grabbing or resisting.
Without pulling all of the gears apart, where should I start looking for what's grabbing?
Thanks & 73
Jay
W6CJ
|
Jay:
What is the serial number of your R-4C?? There are some very special "gotcha's" to pay attention to on the late "metal-geared" PTO (and as Steve said it still has two plastic gears in it) should you be pulling it apart for cleaning.
May be slow to answer today...away from the computer/internet for much of the day. 73 Peter VE7PS
On Thu, Dec 19, 2024 at 4:12?AM Steve Wedge, W1ES/4 via <w1es= [email protected]> wrote: I agree with everything Peter has listed except that I use mineral spirits for the ball bearings and their race.?
I will add that you won¡¯t get the PTO to be as light and smooth as the earlier designs but you can come close ¡ª especially with the ¡°metal gears¡± version (there are still one or two nylon gears in a ¡°metal gears¡± PTO).?
Be very careful to put any nylon washers back where they originally were. The locations and thicknesses of these washers can vary ¡ª they were used to fine-tune the geartrain.?
73,
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
On Wed, Dec 18, 2024 at 23:10, VE7PS via < ve7ps@...> wrote:
Jay;
There are many reasons that can contribute to "grabbing" or "sticky" tuning on the C-line dials.? Often there can be more than one reason.? Full teardown is always my choice but I understand that can be?a daunting task to face for the 1st time.??
Before doing that I would recommend?reading and studying two articles. Both are on WB4HFN's website.
The first is by Neil, K1VY;
The 2nd is by me, and can be found here;
It starts on Page 15.
If pulling the PTO seems a bit much, you could try cleaning out the front bearing with long Q-tips and rubbing alcohol.? You will need at least a half?dozen swabs to get it clean.? Once clean, re-lube with a light grease.? I prefer copper infused moly grease these days, but have used white lithium in the past.? Both work well for me.? Unfortunately?one often finds burrs on the 1/4" steel PTO shaft, or on the brass busing it slides into, as well as old stiff grease on the PTO gears. Full disassembly is required to address these issues.
I cannot stress enough to take a picture at EVERY step of the removal process.? You won't regret it afterwards.? There are four different mechanical styles I have documented produced during the C-line run....and despite having disassembled at least 30 of those now, I can still get easily confused when trying to get them back together again. Pictures?REALLY help!
Good luck!
73
Peter
VE7PS
My guess is that the vernier drive has a lubricant that has hardened over the years. ? Same could be true of the PTO screw.? Let's hear what the experts say...
On Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 10:07:53 PM EST, Jay W6CJ via
<lastradioman=
[email protected]> wrote:
Group,
In an R4C the PTO is electronically stable but that 'silky smooth' tuning is not happening.? It takes extra force to tune the PTO (as compared to my T4XC) and feels like something grabbing or resisting.
Without pulling all of the gears apart, where should I start looking for what's grabbing?
Thanks & 73
Jay
W6CJ
|
I agree¡ it¡¯s always hardened grease. I reworked a couple of TR7 PTOs and they were all suffering from that effect in the shaft. Had to take everything apart to get the shaft out, clean and lubricate it.? ?Silky smooth¡° tuning is restored that way.? Good luck? Dieter DL5RDO
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Am 19.12.2024 um 04:11 schrieb Evan via groups.io <k9sqg@...>:
?
My guess is that the vernier drive has a lubricant that has hardened over the years. ? Same could be true of the PTO screw. ?Let's hear what the experts say...
Group, In an R4C the PTO is electronically stable but that 'silky smooth' tuning is not happening.? It takes extra force to tune the PTO (as compared to my T4XC) and feels like something grabbing or resisting.
Without pulling all of the gears apart, where should I start looking for what's grabbing?
Thanks & 73 Jay W6CJ
|
Group, Thanks for the suggestions. Did a little cleanup on the PTO shaft and gears? (I thought the technician resolved this) and tuning is more smooth. 73 Jay W6CJ
Jay:
What is the serial number of your R-4C?? There are some very special "gotcha's" to pay attention to on the late "metal-geared" PTO (and as Steve said it still has two plastic gears in it) should you be pulling it apart for cleaning.
May be slow to answer today...away from the computer/internet for much of the day. 73 Peter VE7PS I agree with everything Peter has listed except that I use mineral spirits for the ball bearings and their race.?
I will add that you won¡¯t get the PTO to be as light and smooth as the earlier designs but you can come close ¡ª especially with the ¡°metal gears¡± version (there are still one or two nylon gears in a ¡°metal gears¡± PTO).?
Be very careful to put any nylon washers back where they originally were. The locations and thicknesses of these washers can vary ¡ª they were used to fine-tune the geartrain.?
73,
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
On Wed, Dec 18, 2024 at 23:10, VE7PS via groups.io < ve7ps@...> wrote:
Jay;
There are many reasons that can contribute to "grabbing" or "sticky" tuning on the C-line dials.? Often there can be more than one reason.? Full teardown is always my choice but I understand that can be?a daunting task to face for the 1st time.??
Before doing that I would recommend?reading and studying two articles. Both are on WB4HFN's website.
The first is by Neil, K1VY;
The 2nd is by me, and can be found here;
It starts on Page 15.
If pulling the PTO seems a bit much, you could try cleaning out the front bearing with long Q-tips and rubbing alcohol.? You will need at least a half?dozen swabs to get it clean.? Once clean, re-lube with a light grease.? I prefer copper infused moly grease these days, but have used white lithium in the past.? Both work well for me.? Unfortunately?one often finds burrs on the 1/4" steel PTO shaft, or on the brass busing it slides into, as well as old stiff grease on the PTO gears. Full disassembly is required to address these issues.
I cannot stress enough to take a picture at EVERY step of the removal process.? You won't regret it afterwards.? There are four different mechanical styles I have documented produced during the C-line run....and despite having disassembled at least 30 of those now, I can still get easily confused when trying to get them back together again. Pictures?REALLY help!
Good luck!
73
Peter
VE7PS
My guess is that the vernier drive has a lubricant that has hardened over the years. ? Same could be true of the PTO screw.? Let's hear what the experts say...
Group,
In an R4C the PTO is electronically stable but that 'silky smooth' tuning is not happening.? It takes extra force to tune the PTO (as compared to my T4XC) and feels like something grabbing or resisting.
Without pulling all of the gears apart, where should I start looking for what's grabbing?
Thanks & 73
Jay
W6CJ
|
Jay W6CJ