Best Fix For Slipping Dial Cords?

12/21/2010 9:46:47 PMDaniel

I'm having the usual dial cord problem - the dial cords slip where they are wrapped around the metal shafts for the tuning controls. The dial cords are taught (no slack) and the springs are in good shape. Something about the physics of friction, LOL! Whats your favorite way to fix this?

12/21/2010 10:11:07 PMWarren

First thing is, what is the source and cause of the friction. If this is a horizontal dial pointer, the glide the pointer rides needs to be clean and some lite grease. The tuner itself maybe to hard to turn, clean the bearings and lite oil. May need to remove the tuner and add sink cleanser and water into the bearings to work loose. Clean, dry and re-lube. You can make your own cord non-slip with a little tree sap, and a drop or two of rubbing alcohol. Apply wet to area that slips with Q-tip. This make a rosin when the alcohol drys.

12/21/2010 10:23:40 PMPeter G Balazsy

If all parts of the dial pulley system are shiny clean and rust free ( esp the large wheel must be clean and smooth) and properly lubricated on the wheel's shafts... you should not need anything at all to increase the friction except the proper tension.

However in certain stubborn situations I've eliminated slip this way:

1.) I have found that bees-wax or the wax on the old paper caps works very well. I scrape some off the body of an old cap and rub it into the cord or put it on the wheels of travel or on the small "primary 3-wrap shaft". Sometimes I'll put some on a flat blade screwdriver tip and warm it a bit with the heat from a solder iron and then apply it. Works quite nicely.

Another solution is:
2.) I also have some rosin in liquid form that I bought from Bill Turner at www.Dialcover.com and I can apply a few drops of that to the cord where needed.

12/21/2010 10:54:29 PMDaniel

Thank you both gentlemen for the suggestions. I have already cleaned and lubricated the entire mechanism. I believe my problem area Peter is what you call the "primary 3 wrap shaft" and bees wax sounds like a good solution. Its something about the dial cord on my set - it's still strong and not frayed but it feels "silky soft" - too soft - across my fingers. I will give the bees wax a try. Thanks!

:If all parts of the dial pulley system are shiny clean and rust free ( esp the large wheel must be clean and smooth) and properly lubricated on the wheel's shafts... you should not need anything at all to increase the friction except the proper tension.
:
:However in certain stubborn situations I've eliminated slip this way:
:
:1.) I have found that bees-wax or the wax on the old paper caps works very well. I scrape some off the body of an old cap and rub it into the cord or put it on the wheels of travel or on the small "primary 3-wrap shaft". Sometimes I'll put some on a flat blade screwdriver tip and warm it a bit with the heat from a solder iron and then apply it. Works quite nicely.
:
:Another solution is:
:2.) I also have some rosin in liquid form that I bought from Bill Turner at www.Dialcover.com and I can apply a few drops of that to the cord where needed.
:

12/22/2010 6:20:49 PMEdd

Sir Daniel . . . . .

Since, you have now visualized and zeroed in on the "primary 2-3 wrap shaft", but with us still not knowing if it is a full quarter inch or has had some machining to alter it into a slight concave shaping in the wrap area.

I will examine the "wrap portions" bare shaft area to see if it has shifted to "Chrome City" with repeated use.

If so, I then take a round dowel / pencil of slighter diameter than the concave radius and then wrap the dowel with some ~400-600 grit silicon carbide paper . . . or how you clazy Amellicans say . ."Wet and dry papers " . . and wet it down and use m_u _ l _ t _ i _ p _ l _ e . . . . sidebysidebyside --- lengthwise strokes on the shaft to end up with a then matte surface . . . read that as gripppppping .

That should now provide improved drive from that shaft.

On some o o o o o ld units with only a flat shaft, I have even seen a 1 turn application of old white CLOTH adhesive/bandaging tape around the shaft. The unit still working fine after 70+ years, with the tape still intact and gripping/cushioning.

I too, also tap my two pine trees for free rosin for the same use, as well as rosin flux for soldering, after its preparation by heating to a boil and cool down.

73's de Edd

:Thank you both gentlemen for the suggestions. I have already cleaned and lubricated the entire mechanism. I believe my problem area Peter is what you call the "primary 3 wrap shaft" and bees wax sounds like a good solution. Its something about the dial cord on my set - it's still strong and not frayed but it feels "silky soft" - too soft - across my fingers. I will give the bees wax a try. Thanks!
:

::If all parts of the dial pulley system are shiny clean and rust free ( esp the large wheel must be clean and smooth) and properly lubricated on the wheel's shafts... you should not need anything at all to increase the friction except the proper tension.
::
::However in certain stubborn situations I've eliminated slip this way:
::
::1.) I have found that bees-wax or the wax on the old paper caps works very well. I scrape some off the body of an old cap and rub it into the cord or put it on the wheels of travel or on the small "primary 3-wrap shaft". Sometimes I'll put some on a flat blade screwdriver tip and warm it a bit with the heat from a solder iron and then apply it. Works quite nicely.
::
::Another solution is:
::2.) I also have some rosin in liquid form that I bought from Bill Turner at www.Dialcover.com and I can apply a few drops of that to the cord where needed.
::
:
:

12/22/2010 7:40:27 PMVinny

Daniel, here is a nice video on slipping dial cords.
Vinny A.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G266dzQwNrc&playnext=1&list=PL6CF0909CD8F39CCB&index=6