Thanks,
Jeff S.
MRO
:I'm working on a vintage Philco radio that I just can't get the tuning dial string to cooperate on. The tuning shaft rotates but doesn't contain enough friction to turn the string that turns the wheel on the tuning capacitor. The string itself is as tight as a banjo string, so there isn't much adjustment left there. I tried some resin powder, but that didn't help either. Does anyone have any tried & true method to add some friction to the tuning shaft so that it will grab the tuning dial string?
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:Thanks,
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:Jeff S.
Steve
Vintage Philco radio covers a lot of terrain to us…..Philco model pls….and the turns on the tuning knob shaft could be researched, commonly 2-2 1/2 turns.
Also, concur on the free movement of the tuning condenser and not any gummed up internal roller bearings, as well as wiper contacts binding.
Some of those old Philcos used quite hefty dial cord gauge.
Is the tuning shaft wrapped directly with the cord or is it grooved/ reduced in diameter.
If the “wrap area” has acquired a slick polishing, I have used a sacrificial New #11 Exacto blade to scrape and run precisely side by side linear striations all around the shaft.
A lesser alternative is to break the glaze and acquire a matte surface by the use of a stick typewriter eraser element or the use of wet #400-800 wet and dry sandpaper…using the same longitudinal strokes.
73's de Edd
The string could be too tight?
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:Vintage Philco radio covers a lot of terrain to us…..Philco model pls….and the turns on the tuning knob shaft could be researched, commonly 2-2 1/2 turns.
:
:Also, concur on the free movement of the tuning condenser and not any gummed up internal roller bearings, as well as wiper contacts binding.
:
:Some of those old Philcos used quite hefty dial cord gauge.
:
:Is the tuning shaft wrapped directly with the cord or is it grooved/ reduced in diameter.
:
:If the “wrap area” has acquired a slick polishing, I have used a sacrificial New #11 Exacto blade to scrape and run precisely side by side linear striations all around the shaft.
:
:A lesser alternative is to break the glaze and acquire a matte surface by the use of a stick typewriter eraser element or the use of wet #400-800 wet and dry sandpaper…using the same longitudinal strokes.
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:73's de Edd
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Thanks!
Jeff S.
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:The string could be too tight?
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::Vintage Philco radio covers a lot of terrain to us…..Philco model pls….and the turns on the tuning knob shaft could be researched, commonly 2-2 1/2 turns.
::
::Also, concur on the free movement of the tuning condenser and not any gummed up internal roller bearings, as well as wiper contacts binding.
::
::Some of those old Philcos used quite hefty dial cord gauge.
::
::Is the tuning shaft wrapped directly with the cord or is it grooved/ reduced in diameter.
::
::If the “wrap area” has acquired a slick polishing, I have used a sacrificial New #11 Exacto blade to scrape and run precisely side by side linear striations all around the shaft.
::
::A lesser alternative is to break the glaze and acquire a matte surface by the use of a stick typewriter eraser element or the use of wet #400-800 wet and dry sandpaper…using the same longitudinal strokes.
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::73's de Edd
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Historically, I always use a small round file,(preferrably rasp), and roll it into/out of the tuning shaft groove. If enough pressure is applied and repeated around the perimeter of the groove, small serrations will be cut into the area, where a little more bite is needed on the dial cord. Cleaning and application of grease to the tuning condenser bearings helps too. Even the tensioning screw on the condenser shaft end could be loosened, if it turns too hard.
marv
:It's a model 40-130. It has the requisite number of turns on the tuning shaft (the shaft has a groove for the dial string). The string was loose to begin with and I tightened it a bit, but either way it didn't turn the tuning condenser very well if at all. I'm going to try cleaning up the bearings, etc., then do a little "friction" work on the tuning shaft and see if that makes a difference. This tuning condenser isn't the the most free-turning condenser I've ever worked on. I'll post the results.
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:Thanks!
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:Jeff S.
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::The string could be too tight?
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:::Vintage Philco radio covers a lot of terrain to us…..Philco model pls….and the turns on the tuning knob shaft could be researched, commonly 2-2 1/2 turns.
:::
:::Also, concur on the free movement of the tuning condenser and not any gummed up internal roller bearings, as well as wiper contacts binding.
:::
:::Some of those old Philcos used quite hefty dial cord gauge.
:::
:::Is the tuning shaft wrapped directly with the cord or is it grooved/ reduced in diameter.
:::
:::If the “wrap area” has acquired a slick polishing, I have used a sacrificial New #11 Exacto blade to scrape and run precisely side by side linear striations all around the shaft.
:::
:::A lesser alternative is to break the glaze and acquire a matte surface by the use of a stick typewriter eraser element or the use of wet #400-800 wet and dry sandpaper…using the same longitudinal strokes.
:::
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:::73's de Edd
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Doug
Thanks/Jeff S.
:Often, there is a dial spring that maintains uniform tension on the dial cord. Is the spring missing?
:Doug
:It's been awhile since I got back to this project...I tried just about everything (sanding, scoring, pulling the tuning condenser out and thoroughly cleaning it, and some other stuff) but the shaft still doesn't work well. If I use 2.5 turns on the shaft, I noticed that the string will bind on the shaft at a certain point when tuning. 1.5 turns doesn't work at all. I'm wondering if I need to use thinner dial string based on the results of the 2.5 turn configuration. The thinner string might resolve the binding problem. I used some of the string that AES sells, but I know there's thinner string out there. Does anyone have a source for dial string other than AES?
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:Thanks/Jeff S.
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::Often, there is a dial spring that maintains uniform tension on the dial cord. Is the spring missing?
::Doug
Thanks for your help. I pulled the gang condenser off of the chassis, cleaned it up, got a new piece of dial string, and styrated the shaft. Viola, it works!
Now, on to the next project....
Jeff S.
Try this link for a stringing diagram for your radio. Note the 3 turns.
Good luck.
Terry F