[TenTec] Mechanical "birdies" across every band ..

[Richard H. Aubin]

Hi all,

     I've owned almost every Ten Tec rig since the beginning up to my 
latest, (the Argonaut II)  Some day I'll pop for one of the big jobs .. but 
QRP has been my haven for years and the Argo II has everything a QRPer 
could want.

   Since I bought this thing several years ago, I've had an annoying 
problem with a "squeak squeak squeak" as I tune across the band.  At first 
I thought I had some kind of "birdie".  But then found out it was a 
mechanical thing.  I talked to Ten Tec at length and they were convinced it 
was the small felt pads under the know. ( It isn't )   I haven't done 
anything about it as I almost always use "cans" and don't hear much outside 
of the melodious CW notes I've come to know and love.

Also, I've been rather inactive over the past few years and am now getting 
back into things.  Hence my re-visit to the mechanical birdies.  Here's 
what I've found.  It seems that the actual metal spinner is slightly out of 
round.  When pushed in and secured in it's proper place the aforementioned 
pads rub against the bezel to offer resistance.  This is okay.  BUT when 
properly adjusted (to get rid of the backlash etc.) the spinner knob is 
inside (by a few millimeters) of the bezel's recess. And the out of round 
part rubs against it causing a "squeak".  I can eliminate it by pulling out 
the knob and re-positioning it away from the bezel.  No more squeaks .. but 
then the felt pads don't provide enough friction and the knob just spins 
wildly. Has anyone had a similar experience.   I'm about to order a new 
knob from the fine folks down in TN, but wonder if I might just get another 
"out of round".  Very strange.

By the way, my first Ten Tec was one of the very early models that had 
separate receiver and transmitter (and I believe it was a 1 watt 
transmitter)   Then I got an Argonant 505, 509, 515, a couple Tritons, and 
various Omini's.  This little 5 watt Argo II was my "dream machine".   It 
hasn't disappointed me in the least.   I just have to keep using "cans" to 
eliminate the "squeaks"  <griin>


73,
        Rich  WA1TRY

mailto: richa@cox.net     or    rich@pcphotovideo.com


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