Hi,

I have a couple of projects on the go for which I am missing the IF tuning slugs/cores. For example, one radio, some-one has been trying to restore it before me and broken the slug .... and I broke another one trying to get it to move; several others are also stuck.

Does anyone have spare slugs ..... approx size is 10mm long, 6mm dia ....???

I am happy to obtain any size really, as I am sure that I can 'fit' it in place if need be???

If anyone has any spares that they no longer need, please let me know.

Or, if anyone knows of a reliable source????

Cheers,
Ian

Possibly a photo of what sort? Is it a brass screw with ferrite on the end like fifties & earlier? The last one of those I had; It was a padder, no slug just the rod. Since then I won a box full of brand new ones. These are likely imperial 3/8" dia 3/4" slug effective thread 1 3/8" looks like 5/32".

I made the slug out of a broken ferrite antenna rod. That required it to be wrapped in paper and ground down with the tool post grinder. The paper was to stop it shattering in the chuck. It is brittle, but as hard as the hobs of hell. Its about on par with tungsten carbide only harder as it will not cut it. Even the hole had to be ground in.

Marc

To avoid breaking more, you have to use the exact adjustment tool. Else the slug will break and get jammed. I've been there... ;-(

Hi Marc,

These tuning slugs (cores?) are ferrite , threaded on outside, with hexagon 'key hole' through the middle. Others that I find are ferrite about the same size, different thread, solid, with screw driver slot at either end.

I have managed to replace one broken slug with a similar slug from a 'parts' radio. Unfortunately, the thread is different, so I used some teflon tape to obtain some grip for adjustment. Not professional, but does work with care.

Hi Wa2ise,

I can't describe all the processes I went through to start with .... in trying to get the slug to move. I have 'rounded off' several of my plastic Alignment tools, used gentle heat, ground down an Allen key to the correct size, flushed it with alcohol, WD40 etc etc .... hours and hours of gentleness, TLC did not work .... In the end I had to get a bit more vigorous ..... One slug broke ..... another one is still stuck fast and the Hex key hole is slightly rounded out .... I think that I have discovered a new superglue ... possum piss and wax .. ????

Hence my request .... I doubt whether I have the equipment and skill to make these things .... if anyone has any spares of any shape or size, please send me any email.

There are prophets on the web proclaiming they have ways of moving them...Hmmm!

Some of those were screwed in with a round rubber, strip. That can go to goo and to help they often put wax in them & it set them in place, making life interesting when you tried to move them & that's what does the damage. Only when it shatters does it then condescend to come out, rarely with out a fight. As pointed out, grinding a new one is a delicate effort on a big lathe. I have often been tempted to give some the sledge hammer effect & see if it can be re-cast?

Had a quick look at a couple of places; But nothing clear, looks like an import job otherwise.

Marc

It won't be pretty, but maybe just a little more ferrite, like the chokes that are glued to a piece of wire (you see these in modern electronics), solder a longer piece of wire to the wire, then dip it into the transformer, making the inductance increase, and see if the alignment gets better. If so, melt some wax around the positioned new ferrite to fix it into place. Or if the alignment gets worse, use a piece of brass to make the inductance go down. If either one makes it worse, then the alignment may be fine and just leave it be. Maybe some melted wax to keep the broken bits in place.