On Saturday, April 18, 2020 at 10:55:05 AM UTC-4, John Robertson wrote:
> Any chance you can remove the old ferrite core chips, drill/carve out
> the plastic core, and build a replacement thread?
John:
I would engage at that level after I find a drop-in - which seems to have happened. I have often fabricated parts for equipment, and/or taken apart switches and so forth to make internal parts. I do keep a small stock of spring bronze and such along those lines. As to a ferrite core, If I can get the old one out cleanly, I will start along those lines surely. Note that the core is split into six vertical sections such that the alignment tool goes right through to the bottom without engaging. Dental-pick time once the can is out.
This particular FM3 had only one (1) virtue - a complete set of tubes and shields. The faceplate was filthy, the knobs crusted, the sheet-metal rusted and the boards covered with a hellish combination of nicotine and grease. Given what I paid for it - a dive into a dumpster - I figured I would keep it around for parts. Now that I am looking to fill the day, I have decided to give it a go for restoration, they are not making any more of them.
Cleaning took the full-monte - brake cleaner, ammonia spray and the dishwasher (x2). If I get it to behave properly, I will then deal with the sheet-metal.
I have gone through the alignment up to the stereo discriminator, it receives! So there is hope.
(PAM is a great release agent for the method you suggest - thank you for the idea!)