[TenTec] TENTEC/VIBROPLEX PADDLE

[W4LT George Tonsmeire]

> Better get the upgrade kit..  NOT SURE ABOUT THIS ONE ???

The difference in the "delux" and the standard is the jewel in the upper and
lower trunion pins that hold the lever bars - Look at the iambic on the
vibroplex site (vibroplex.com) and substitute part 4015 for 6030 and
substitute 1004 for 1003 and substitute 1002 for 1001 - I can't say if the
jewel makes it any better because the standard one seems fine to me and I
really can't tell the difference - Ten Tec had Vibroplex make the standard
Iambic Key on bases that Ten Tec painted the Ten Tec colors and with Ten Tec
Logo ID and Vibroplex made a special Ten Tec Number series TT for Ten Tec
and I for Iambic and the serial number 001-250. So the serial number of the
last one would be TT-I250. Vibroplex will change the trunion pins and screws
if you want to modify your key - Parts are about $30 and I don't know about
the labor. Plus there would be shipping. The key wouldn't then be
technically a Ten Tec but would be a modified Ten Tec. Collectors might want
to keep their keys "original" and hams who want to use their keys may or may
not be able to tell the difference.
The jewel is in the trunion and is not the red plastic thing that Vibroplex
calls a Red Decor. Top Pc. (8081). Be careful if you get the jewel that you
don't tighten the trun ion scres too much since you can actually crush the
jewel. It just needs to be snug. Hope this helps
George
W4LT
----- Original Message -----
From: <Wa4aos at aol.com>
To: <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 27, 2003 1:47 PM
Subject: [TenTec] TENTEC/VIBROPLEX PADDLE


> You guys had me going,
>
> Vibroplex bought out by MFJ.  THIS IS TOTALLY WRONG ! ! !
> Horrible Ten Tec paddle.      WRONG AGAIN ! ! !
> Misaligned parts.             SO WHAT ? THE PADDLE IS MADE TO ADJUST !
> Deformed parts.               My unit is PERFECT ! ! !
> Don't buy it get a Kent...    KENT IS GOOD TOO ! !
> Better get the upgrade kit..  NOT SURE ABOUT THIS ONE ???
>
> Just what I needed to hear after waiting for a number of months to receive
my
> serial number 156 which is the month and year I was born. The delay was
due
> to the serial number that I requested and not any Ten TEC or Vibroplex
> problem.
>
> I received my unit today and was almost afraid to open the box. I just
knew
> once I did, I would be on the phone demanding a COMPLETE AND IMMEDIATE
REFUND
> from Ten Tec.
> GUESS WHAT? I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE DELIGHTED ! ! ! I opened the box
and
> spent 5 minutes adjusting it for the feel I like and here are my comments.
>
> Was it worth wait? YOU BET ! ! !!  It's a beautiful paddle and is here to
> stay.
> Was Vibroplex bought by MFJ?  HARDLY ! ! ! Get your facts right before
making
> statements like this ! ! !
>
> Horrible paddle? After adjusting it to my particular liking, the Kent is
up
> for sale. This paddle has a wonderful feel and perfect action. The best
that
> I have used to date. Including other Vibroplex paddles and certainly
better
> than any of the Ten Tec keyer boxes of years gone by. I actually prefer it
to
> my Kent.
>
>
> Misaligned parts? Have hams become so appliance oriented that they are
> bothered by adjusting a paddle. That's why they come with adjustments.
>
> Deformed parts? ABSOLUTLY NOT ! ! ! This paddle is just stunning !  ! The
> chrome is beautiful and looks very deep. GEORGEOUS ! ! !
>
>    I bought a Vibroplex paddle about 13 years ago. This was the top of the
> line Presentation paddle with gold plate. This was before the present
owners
> bought Vibroplex. What a piece of junk that paddle was. The Vibroplex
label
> was a cheap stick on type with no mounting screws. The chrome was very
thin
> and pitted out of the box. It felt stiff and had a rough action. I used it
> one weekend and it has been sitting on a shelf since.
>
> Don't buy it get a Kent?  My Kent is for sale. I love the Kent and have
used
> it for years but the action on the new Vibroplex/TenTec unit is as good or
> better. Email me if you need a Kent and we will work a deal..
>
> Better get the upgrade kit?  I don't know about this one and I will look
into
> it but I can't imagine how this could be any better.
>
>  This is how I set up my paddle and try it with yours if you care to.
> First, slightly loosen the two screws on the bottom under the vertical
bars
> that mate against the jewels. Then slightly retighten making sure the
lever
> arms are a little lose but that there is no slop in them in the vertical
> plane. I adjust it until I just hear a slight, ever so soft ping when I
> release the paddle. Next, adjust the spacing of contact gap with a Dollar
> bill so that the gap is just ever so slightly wider than the bill. If you
> like a little more gap, try a business card between the contact points.
Next,
> adjust the spring tension until the levers just pop back home when
released.
> Any more spring tension will make the action rough. With the paddle
adjusted
> this way the action is the best that I have ever experienced in my 32
years
> of CW Hamming.
> This is an excellent product and unlike some who have made comments on the
> reflector, I bought one and have used it.
>
>  I wish those that can't resist putting their remarks on the reflector
> without getting the information correct first, would stop and think about
> what they are doing. If you don't own it or can't provide useful and
accurate
> information, good or bad, Please keep your comments to yourself.
>
> I will probably get flamed for saying something positive on this reflector
> but I don't mind pulling arrows out of my back.
>
> UPDATE. I just called Stan to order a second unit and they are all SOLD. I
am
> on a waiting list for a possible cancellation. If you want to have any
chance
> of getting one, you better call Stan and see if he will put you on a list,
> just in case. If you didn't order one, believing some of the recent post,
you
> just missed out forever. This was a limited edition of 250. Of course in a
> few decades they will show up on eBay as the owners start to go to the big
> Ham Radio Shack in the sky!!
>
> Thanks and 73,
> Glenn WA4AOS
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec