[CQ-Contest] TIC Ring Potentiometer Failure?

[Jim Idelson]

Hi all,

Not far into the contest this weekend, we began to have trouble with the TIC 
1022E [a 2003 unit]. It exhibits erratic readout and rotation behavior. The 
load is an Optibeam 4-el 40m yagi. I recently tightened the drive motor to 
eliminate slippage of the ring gear. I suspect something has happened to the 
potentiometer that feeds back rotor position back to the controller. A search 
of the towertalk archives shows that there have been problems like this in the 
past [1996/1997]. I went up the tower to have a look this afternoon, but did 
not see enything suspicious. There were no bad external wiring connections, 
etc. I sprayed the drive shaft and what looks like the position pot shaft with 
contact cleaner from the outside. That did nothing, but I suspect I would have 
to disassemble the motor to get the spray into the right places.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Jim Idelson K1IR
email    k1ir at designet.com
web    http://www.designet.com/k1ir