[TowerTalk] Lubricating air variable capacitors

[Jim Lux]

At 08:10 AM 10/2/2005, Steve wrote:
>I have recently acquired a used Johnson 153-6-1 air variable capacitor
>for use in an antenna tuner. Looks to be in pretty good condition, but
>it does not turn as freely as one would expect.
>
>Is it likely that lubrication would free it up some?

Might also just be crud in the bearings.



>Is it OK to lubricate this type of capacitor? With what? And where?

What kind of bearings does it have? (oilite bushings, for instance?)


-- 
There's two sort of approaches for this.. one is to dunk it in a tank of an 
appropriate cleaning solution (water and soap? solvent?), possibly using an 
ultrasonic cleaner (although some materials are destroyed by ultrasonic), 
and then relubricate it.

The other is just to lube it and go.

As for what kind of lubricant.. light oil (aka 3-in-1 oil) might work 
nicely.  So might one of the solvent/lube combinations (like BreakFree.. 
little teflon particles in a carrier).  A trip through the gun section of 
your local sporting goods store or K-mart might be useful.  All sorts of 
cleaner/lube stuff available for close tolerance mechanical devices. 
(Although it's unlikely you'll need powder residue solvent)

WD-40 is not a lubricant.