[TowerTalk] Ham IV Sticking Solenoid problem

[Steve Gilbert]

After refurbishing my Ham IV rotator with a new potentiomer and new ball 
bearings, (the old ones had gone black as damp had gone into the casing), the 
one problem that remains is the fact that the brake solenoid and armature seem 
to have become magnetized, so that when the brake is released and there is no 
current, the armature does not release. I tightened up the return springs, but 
this made no difference. The only way around this seems to be to place a thin 
non-magnetic layer, like a layer of PVC tape across the pole piece of the 
solenoid, so that the magnetic circuit is broken. The armature then goes back 
every time, BUT the solenoid tends to buzz !!! Any great ideas???..Steve, G3OAG