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Alignment tool for Philco 70A trimmer capacitors - Printable Version

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Alignment tool for Philco 70A trimmer capacitors - Guest - 01-30-2006 07:00 PM

Gents,

I need an alignment non-metallic tool (hex nut driver type) in order to fine-tune the trimmer capacitors on my Philco 70A.

Where would I find such specific alignment tool ?

Your help in this matter is greatly appreciated..

Regards


Récepteur

- Chuck Schwark - 01-30-2006 08:26 PM

Use a plastic 3/8" diam. piece of tubing (hobby or craft shops) and heat up a 1/4" hex nut to "melt-in" an impression of the nut in one or both of the open ends.

- Guest - 01-31-2006 03:47 PM

Mr Schwark,

Thanks for the valuable trick.

Regards


Récepteur

- Chuck Schwark - 01-31-2006 03:52 PM

Mr. Schwark was my Dad.

I'm just Chuck, mon ami. Icon_biggrin

- Guest - 01-31-2006 10:30 PM

Chuck,

Merci !

Récepteur

- n9vu - 02-07-2006 04:25 AM

Chuck Schwark Wrote:Use a plastic 3/8" diam. piece of tubing (hobby or craft shops) and heat up a 1/4" hex nut to "melt-in" an impression of the nut in one or both of the open ends.

This may be an incredibly stupid question, but I don't ask I will never
know. Does the nut stay in the piece of tubing this grabbing onto the shall we call it male nut sticking out of the radio? It sounds to me like it does. What I'm picturing is something that has to grab onto the screw like device sticking out of the radio and turn this. Is this correct or ??

- Chuck Schwark - 02-07-2006 04:36 AM

The adjustments are 1/4" hex nuts in the older Philco IF cans and the compensator padders and trimmers - not screws.

Take a run-of-the-mill 6-32, 1/4" hex nut thread a long-ish screw into the nut before heating to allow pushing into the tubing end and removing after cooling off.

You are essentially making a plastic nut-driver. The original was harder phenolic, but the plastic will do fine.

Here's what an original "Philco Alignment Tool" (left) looks like:

[Image: aligntools02.jpg]
[Image: aligntools01.jpg]

Re: Alignment tool for Philco 70A trimmer capacitors - LASJayhawk - 12-19-2011 04:48 AM

reviving a very old thread.

I'm messing with using 1/4" PEX (used for plumbing out here, about $1.60 for 4' here in vegas at lowes.)

My addition to the whole thing is instead of using a nut to put the hex into the tubing, I'm using a 1/4" allen wrench. using the long arm of the allen wrench gives you a 3" long 1/4" shank to drive into the tool, and the short arm makes for a good handle while working making the tool.

I'm trying to find a good way to heat the PEX instead of the tool to make it easier to form the tool.

Re: Alignment tool for Philco 70A trimmer capacitors - 7estatdef - 12-19-2011 04:50 PM

Hi Guys
I just use a cheap BIC pen with the innards out of it. That and a little heat from a heat gun over the adjusting nut. I do like allen wrench idea too. Also a tiny speck of oil on the screw to help it turn easier isn't a bad thing.
GL
Terry