My Viking mobile TX adventure continues. Ashley, your procedure worked perfectly. However, Kroil was not available so I used PB Blaster. I had no idea that the stuff conducted RF. I cleaned the area around the Gang tuning capacitors. However, there is residue on the plates. I powered up the TX and went to Tune and got arc over on the middle cap. I am guessing that the PB Blaster left residue from the over spray (I got heavy handed) on the capacitor plates which is causing the arcing. The plates are very straight and no bends or contact.

Ashley, or anyone, can you suggest the best way to remove the PB Blaster residue from the capacitor plates.

Many thanks,
Bob, KN4HH
On Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at 09:04:18 AM EST, Bob Watson via groups.io <kn4hhptc@...> wrote:


Ashley, thank you so much for that detailed procedure. Just what I needed. I will follow your procedure and report back.

73, Bob, KN4HH

On Monday, December 11, 2023 at 08:26:40 PM EST, Ashley Hall via groups.io <ashley40@...> wrote:




Bob Hello
This is what WE do for frozin/very sticky rotating components such as variable capacitors: YMMV
A few drops of KROIL on each bearing surface that is accessible , ( shaft collars, etc). Let sit overnight
Flush with a very light machine oil ( 3 in one is ok), meanwhile applying a low rotational force to the frozen shaft...Our experience is, sooner or later, the shaft will begin to move.. Apply heat with heat gun ( we use the Weller heat gun because the heat temp is relatively low).
Rinse and repeat until shaft is free. Flush with clean lightweight machine oil.
Add periodic lubrication of rotating components to your " To Do"...List
Note: we spend a lot of time "un-freezing" rotational components in which the periodic maintenance has been neglected.

Thank You
Kiss-Electronics
Ms Ashley Hall
183 N 5th PL.
Cornelius, Oregon
97113


W7DUZ


<>www.kiss-electronics.com


On Monday, December 11, 2023 at 04:02:57 PM PST, Bob Watson via groups.io <kn4hhptc@...> wrote:


Good day, all. My VM transmitter has been working well until today. I tried to adjust grid current using the Gang Tuning control. I turned the knob about half way and the control locked up. I could not turn the control in either direction. I loosened the shaft coupler between the front and middle tuning capacitor and the front capacitor turns freely. The middle tuning capacitor would not budge. I loosened the shaft coupler between the middle and rear capacitor and the rear capacitor moves freely. I am afraid to apply too much force to the middle capacitor shaft. Has anyone run into this problem and any recommendations on freeing up the capacitor. When the problem is solved, I will need to re-align the position of each tuning capacitor. As best I recall, all sections were at approximately the same location ( all fully meshed).

Thanks for any comments.
73, Bob, KN4HH

On Dec 15, 2023, at 9:03?AM, Bob Watson via groups.io <kn4hhptc@...> wrote:

?

My Viking mobile TX adventure continues.? Ashley, your procedure worked perfectly.? However, Kroil was not available so I used PB Blaster.? I had no idea that the stuff conducted RF.? I cleaned the area around the Gang tuning capacitors.? However, there is residue on the plates.? I powered up the TX and went to Tune and got arc over on the middle cap.? I am guessing that the PB Blaster left residue from the over spray (I got heavy handed) on the capacitor plates which is causing the arcing.? The plates are very straight and no bends or contact.

Ashley, or anyone, can you suggest the best way to remove the PB Blaster residue from the capacitor plates.

Many thanks,

Bob, KN4HH

On Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at 09:04:18 AM EST, Bob Watson via groups.io <kn4hhptc@...> wrote:

Ashley, thank you so much for that detailed procedure. Just what I needed.? I will follow your procedure and report back.

73, Bob, KN4HH

On Monday, December 11, 2023 at 08:26:40 PM EST, Ashley Hall via groups.io <ashley40@...> wrote:

Bob Hello

?? This is what WE do for frozin/very sticky rotating components such as variable capacitors: YMMV

?? A few drops of KROIL on each bearing surface that is accessible , ( shaft collars, etc). Let sit overnight

?? Flush with a very light machine oil ( 3 in one is ok), meanwhile applying a low rotational force to the frozen shaft...Our experience is, sooner or later, the shaft will begin to move.. Apply heat with heat gun ( we use the Weller heat gun because the heat temp is relatively low).

?? Rinse and repeat until shaft is free. Flush with clean lightweight machine oil.

?? Add periodic lubrication of rotating components to your " To Do"...List

Note: we spend a lot of time "un-freezing" rotational components in which the periodic maintenance has been neglected.?

?

Thank You

Kiss-Electronics

Ms Ashley Hall

183 N 5th PL.

Cornelius, Oregon

97113

?

?

W7DUZ

?

?

On Monday, December 11, 2023 at 04:02:57 PM PST, Bob Watson via groups.io <kn4hhptc@...> wrote:

Good day, all. ?My VM transmitter has been working well until today. ?I tried to adjust grid current using the Gang Tuning control. ?I turned the knob about half way and the control locked up. ?I could not turn the control in either direction. ?I loosened the shaft coupler between the front and middle tuning capacitor and the front capacitor turns freely. ?The middle tuning capacitor would not budge. ?I loosened the shaft coupler between the middle and rear capacitor and the rear capacitor moves freely. ?I am afraid to apply too much force to the middle capacitor shaft. ?Has anyone run into this problem and any recommendations on freeing up the capacitor. ?When the problem is solved, I will need to re-align the position of each tuning capacitor. ?As best I recall, all sections were at approximately the same location ( all fully meshed).

Thanks for any comments.
73, Bob, KN4HH?

On Dec 15, 2023, at 10:49 AM, Bill Blodgett via groups.io <whb5k@...> wrote:

?Remove it and clean with brake cleaner aerosol purchased from an auto supply store. ?If available in your locale, buy the solvent type. ?

Also, I’ve learned that 3-in-1 is pretty much an old type oil which will gum up with time. ?Available at bicycle shops and firearms stores is a very low viscosity synthetic oil containing teflon which used in very small quantity will easily flow into shaft bearings. ?Look for Tri-Flow in a small, black, squeeze container.

73,

Bill

KJ5BNE

++++++++++++++++

Bill Blodgett

Arlington, Texas

On Dec 15, 2023, at 9:03?AM, Bob Watson via groups.io <kn4hhptc@...> wrote:

?

My Viking mobile TX adventure continues.? Ashley, your procedure worked perfectly.? However, Kroil was not available so I used PB Blaster.? I had no idea that the stuff conducted RF.? I cleaned the area around the Gang tuning capacitors.? However, there is residue on the plates.? I powered up the TX and went to Tune and got arc over on the middle cap.? I am guessing that the PB Blaster left residue from the over spray (I got heavy handed) on the capacitor plates which is causing the arcing.? The plates are very straight and no bends or contact.

Ashley, or anyone, can you suggest the best way to remove the PB Blaster residue from the capacitor plates.

Many thanks,

Bob, KN4HH

On Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at 09:04:18 AM EST, Bob Watson via groups.io <kn4hhptc@...> wrote:

Ashley, thank you so much for that detailed procedure. Just what I needed.? I will follow your procedure and report back.

73, Bob, KN4HH

On Monday, December 11, 2023 at 08:26:40 PM EST, Ashley Hall via groups.io <ashley40@...> wrote:

Bob Hello

?? This is what WE do for frozin/very sticky rotating components such as variable capacitors: YMMV

?? A few drops of KROIL on each bearing surface that is accessible , ( shaft collars, etc). Let sit overnight

?? Flush with a very light machine oil ( 3 in one is ok), meanwhile applying a low rotational force to the frozen shaft...Our experience is, sooner or later, the shaft will begin to move.. Apply heat with heat gun ( we use the Weller heat gun because the heat temp is relatively low).

?? Rinse and repeat until shaft is free. Flush with clean lightweight machine oil.

?? Add periodic lubrication of rotating components to your " To Do"...List

Note: we spend a lot of time "un-freezing" rotational components in which the periodic maintenance has been neglected.?

?

Thank You

Kiss-Electronics

Ms Ashley Hall

183 N 5th PL.

Cornelius, Oregon

97113

?

?

W7DUZ

?

?

On Monday, December 11, 2023 at 04:02:57 PM PST, Bob Watson via groups.io <kn4hhptc@...> wrote:

Good day, all. ?My VM transmitter has been working well until today. ?I tried to adjust grid current using the Gang Tuning control. ?I turned the knob about half way and the control locked up. ?I could not turn the control in either direction. ?I loosened the shaft coupler between the front and middle tuning capacitor and the front capacitor turns freely. ?The middle tuning capacitor would not budge. ?I loosened the shaft coupler between the middle and rear capacitor and the rear capacitor moves freely. ?I am afraid to apply too much force to the middle capacitor shaft. ?Has anyone run into this problem and any recommendations on freeing up the capacitor. ?When the problem is solved, I will need to re-align the position of each tuning capacitor. ?As best I recall, all sections were at approximately the same location ( all fully meshed).

Thanks for any comments.
73, Bob, KN4HH?