[TenTec] Tuner stiff on Century 21

[Ivin Flint]

Don,  I have been working through that with my Omni D series C.  I called Ten Tec early last week and got the recommended PTO rebuild kit suggestion. $35.00 I believe plus shipping.  They also suggested some solutions other than that but the rebuild was the highest recommendation by them.  


Some things you can try would be to push in on the knob until you feel the spring compress some.  Then work the vfo knob up and down to try getting things loosened up.  I took that advice and it did help.  


A google search came up with some interesting options ranging from a rebuild, opening the PTO and cleaning, to just oiling.
Thursday night I came upon help from a wikipedia post.  It said to unhook the radio and take the VFO knob off along with the felt.  (I had to take the dial skirt off as well).  Then with the face of the radio facing upward put some drops of denatured alcohol on the shaft making sure you get some on both the small and large portion of the shaft and so it runs down toward the PTO.  Then turn the shaft all the way clockwise and counter clockwise several times.  Next use a product called "tri-flow" it is a bicycle chain lubricant.  Do the same with that product.  I used both pretty sparingly but enough to get a little down onto the PTO.  


I did not have to take out or apart the PTO.  It sure worked great I am surprised how smooth the PTO operates now and fixed my backlash problem!  I should have asked the group before proceeding to see if anyone else has tried it and if there were any long term problems.  But, I took my chances and after a couple days still no regrets.

Just a thought to help you.  Good luck.
Ivin W9ILF




________________________________
 From: Curron HILL <kb3drw at msn.com>
To: tentec at contesting.com 
Sent: Sunday, December 4, 2011 3:52 PM
Subject: [TenTec] Tuner stiff on Century 21
 

Well my mint 21 has a stiff tuner.  Time to rebuild it I guess.  The question is, should I just send it in to TenTec and get a complete tune up, everything else is working FB, tuning seems spot on, or should I find someone to rebuild it that has experience in it, or finally should I attempt to do it my self?   Does anyone know what a rebuild and tuneup would cost?

73
KB3DRW  Don                           
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