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TR-4CW dial alignment #PTO #TR4-c

 

Just got a TR-4CW that as far as I can tell works pretty well except that the dial is WAY OFF.
I had a station on 7.220 Mhz on the Drake but when I went to go find it on my Yaesu FT-990 (which is spot on!)
the same station was on 7.244Mhz.
I was trying to align the dial by holding the ring and moving the tuning knob. I was trying little increments but
I was making small progress so I turned it alot (but not to the point of binding it or breaking it) and now I don't
know what frequency I am on? And I can't find that station again.
Also, I was trying to turn the dial very VERY slow (with the tuning dial not the ring) and when I do that the numbers itself will STOP
turning and I have to turn a little faster for the numbers to start moving.
I'm STUCK!
Mark
 

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The ring hold process from the front only adjusts the dial a few KHz or so.

The PTO has a lever that you can squeeze to release the PTO tuning mechanism from the 0 to 100 KHz white dial disk.

You can then manually move the dial disk to read the correct frequency to which the PTO is set.

Do this with the front panel dial skirt adjustment in its mid point.

Make note that it is very common for the pivot point of this lever to be very tight due to aged lubricant in the pivot. A tiny bit of TriFlow on the pivot will fix that. The lever should spring back with no resistance when you release it.

Then you use the more familiar front panel adjustment to finish the alignment.

I am guessing the prior owner tried to align the dials and gave up due to that grease issue.

Gary

W0DVN

On Mar 21, 2025, at 7:17?PM, Mark N2DMI via groups.io <markkiziuk1@...> wrote:

Just got a TR-4CW that as far as I can tell works pretty well except that the dial is WAY OFF.
I had a station on 7.220 Mhz on the Drake but when I went to go find it on my Yaesu FT-990 (which is spot on!)
the same station was on 7.244Mhz.
I was trying to align the dial by holding the ring and moving the tuning knob. I was trying little increments but
I was making small progress so I turned it alot (but not to the point of binding it or breaking it) and now I don't
know what frequency I am on? And I can't find that station again.
Also, I was trying to turn the dial very VERY slow (with the tuning dial not the ring) and when I do that the numbers itself will STOP
turning and I have to turn a little faster for the numbers to start moving.
I'm STUCK!
Mark
 

Gary where is the PTO lever located? And where is the pivot?
Mark
 

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In order to see it, you need to remove the white metal cover that holds the dial lights. I have included a photo of the pTO with the lever brightened in the circle. The lever moves towards the top of the photo. This disengages the gears so you can manually move the dials to match up with correct frequency to which the radio is set.

Along with this piece will come the blue dial filter and the white diffuser, as well as a few spacers.

The lever is towards the front of the PTO gear assembly. Once you get in there, it will be obvious to you.

The pivot location will also be obvious when you get in there but it is on the front of the sheet metal housing that encloses the tuning gears.

Whatever you do, do NOT get anything on the dials. Anything resembling a solvent will fog them irreversibly.

A small dab of TriFlow applied directly to the pivot and a few exercising operations should free it up if it is stuck.

If I am fixing up a radio to sell, I remove the PTO, remove the pivot retainer, thoroughly clean all parts and reassemble. That’s probably more work than you want to do so the drop of Triflow should fix for a long time.

Gary

W0DVN


PastedGraphic-1.tiff

On Mar 22, 2025, at 1:38?AM, Mark N2DMI via groups.io <markkiziuk1@...> wrote:

Gary where is the PTO lever located? And where is the pivot?
Mark
 

Thanks Gary! I have "Super Lube" that is a multi-use synthetic oil. Amazon's description of says that it contains PTFE. I just got it from Amazon this morning because the Triflow that you mentioned takes 2 days to have it delivered from Amazon. Should be the same, right? But if you tell me not to use it then I will order the Triflow. I have off this Saturday and Sunday and wanted to do this task before I go back to work on Monday where I am just too tired from work to do anything when I come back home.
?
Also I'm going to need to calibrate this rig. I have a Heathkit RF oscillator model IG-5280, a yaesu FT-990 and one of those ATS25 receiver. How would you go about aligning this thing up?
Mark
 

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The lubricant you have should be fine.

By “aligning”, I assume you mean only the PTO?

Assuming the radio performs properly, I would not d any other alignments.

Gary

W0DVN

On Mar 22, 2025, at 10:03?AM, Mark N2DMI via groups.io <markkiziuk1@...> wrote:

Thanks Gary! I have "Super Lube" that is a multi-use synthetic oil. Amazon's description of says that it contains PTFE. I just got it from Amazon this morning because the Triflow that you mentioned takes 2 days to have it delivered from Amazon. Should be the same, right? But if you tell me not to use it then I will order the Triflow. I have off this Saturday and Sunday and wanted to do this task before I go back to work on Monday where I am just too tired from work to do anything when I come back home.
?
Also I'm going to need to calibrate this rig. I have a Heathkit RF oscillator model IG-5280, a yaesu FT-990 and one of those ATS25 receiver. How would you go about aligning this thing up?
Mark
 

Hey Gary, by alignment, I meant when I finally can turn the dial freely by doing what you said by releasing the lever I need to get that dial on the correct frequency.
Mark
 

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OK. First put the dial skirt calibration adjustment in the middle of its range. Then tune in a signal whose frequency you know. It will not, at this time, read correctly on the dial of the TR-4CW. Now operate the lever to disengage the gears from the PTO shaft and manually turn the dial disks so they read correctly according to your known signal. Then release the lever to reengage the gears. Since this is a set of gears, slight movement will occur when reengaging.?Then you can use the dial skirt to get the reading to be exactly correct.

Gary

W0DVN

On Mar 22, 2025, at 11:14?AM, Mark N2DMI via groups.io <markkiziuk1@...> wrote:

Hey Gary, by alignment, I meant when I finally can turn the dial freely by doing what you said by releasing the lever I need to get that dial on the correct frequency.
Mark
 

Alright in a little bit I will try this. I wish WWV operated on the ham bands. I have the Heathkit RF oscillator but that thing is not really accurate unless of course I use my frequency counter with it! "OR" I could transmit about 5 watts with the Yaesu at CW into a dummy load and pull the antenna connection off of the Drake.
Hmm.
Mark
 

That last ideal would work to help you understand how far off frequency you are.

Tim

WB8UHZ

On Saturday, March 22, 2025 at 01:24:29 PM EDT, Mark N2DMI via groups.io <markkiziuk1@...> wrote:


Alright in a little bit I will try this. I wish WWV operated on the ham bands. I have the Heathkit RF oscillator but that thing is not really accurate unless of course I use my frequency counter with it! "OR" I could transmit about 5 watts with the Yaesu at CW into a dummy load and pull the antenna connection off of the Drake.
Hmm.
Mark
 

Ok I will try that idea in the morning.?
When I am off from work for Saturday and Sunday (which is rare!) I normally just relax and don’t work on anything. On Sunday I work on all the things I put off on Saturday.
Mark
 

Gary I did like you said with squeezing that lever but it seems like only the second dial ( the one with 100, 200 etc) moves freely with my hand.
The front dial (with 0,10,20 etc) if I turn that, then the front knob moves along with the PTO worm gear.
I need to turn that front dial (without moving the PTO) because I am WAY OFF frequency. Maybe I'm doing something wrong?
Mark
 

Mark:

As you have a TR-4Cw, you should have the so-called "metal-geared" last version of the 4-line PTO's.? (There are still two plastic gears and two spring-loaded anti-backlash gearsets!)?

In order to adjust the front dial?(the KHZ dial) in this PTO you will have to loosen the thin brass nut on the front of the PTO, under the knob.? I cannot recall the size (1/2" maybe ?) but a standard SAE socket will fit.? I just use my fingers on a long socket and do not use a ratchet! Hold the dials from moving and turn the nut to the left to loosen it, just enough to reposition the front dial.? You can always re-position the rear dial as Gary stated with the single outboard "lever" that disengages the gear train if needed. Also, as Gary stated, centre the?+/- 12 Khz dial skirt adjustment first to give you the greatest correction band to band later on.? That's the one where you push in on the dial skirt to keep the knob from moving and you should have just short of one full turn of the knob before it stops.? You want to centre that.

Be careful when re-tightening that brass nut!? There is very little thread on there and it would be easy to strip it.? Make sure it isn't cross-threaded as you get it started on the brass bushing.

Good luck!
73
Peter
VE7PS

On Sun, Mar 23, 2025 at 7:24?AM Mark N2DMI via <markkiziuk1=[email protected]> wrote:
Gary I did like you said with squeezing that lever but it seems like only the second dial ( the one with 100, 200 etc) moves freely with my hand.
The front dial (with 0,10,20 etc) if I turn that, then the front knob moves along with the PTO worm gear.
I need to turn that front dial (without moving the PTO) because I am WAY OFF frequency. Maybe I'm doing something wrong?
Mark
 

Thanks Peter!
Mark
 

I got the dial EXACT! I got it to 0 beat with my Yaesu in CW mode at 7100Mhz, BUT when I was using the built in Drake calibrator the 100 Mhz beat notes from the calibrator were inconsistent with 200, 300 etc. So I felt the rubber (or whatever's it made out of?) bushing behind the skirt is worn out and giving me slippage.
So what I did was I got 1/4 inch ID X 1/2 inch OD rubber fuel line tubing, cut it to the same length and reamed out the inner part so that it would fit.
Voila! Problem solved! I am on frequency and it is repeatable up and down the band.
Mark

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