[time-nuts] Wenzel Oscillator Repair

[Stan W1LE]

Hello Ed,

For soldered cans I use a gas torch to melt the solder and then I pull 
apart the soldered parts.

First I mark one side with a file/scribe to assist reassembly.

I usually put the can in a bench vice for a firm mechanical grip.
I put the soldered joint the furthest away from the vice jaws to 
minimize the heat sink effect of the massive vice.

I apply heat evenly to the solder joint and pull off the soldered cover.
Avoid excessive heat, it will only cook the parts inside.

I have used butane and propane gas torches.
Have also used acetylene ( no oxy ) as with MAPP gas.

May help to have a method of grasping the soldered cover.

In production a induction heater is probably used to get the joint hot, 
then either preformed solder melts
or solder is manually applied.

What is important on disassembly is to be able to get a grip on the 
parts, to ease separation.

Stan, W1LE    FN41sr   Cape Cod






Ed Palmer wrote:



> Hello,
>
> I have a piece of equipment with a Wenzel 5 MHz oscillator from the 
> Timekeeper <http://www.wenzel.com/pdffiles1/Oscillators/TMK.pdf> line.  
> It's functioning (that is, it's on frequency), but the output level is 
> 20 - 30 db lower than it should be.  The level seems to change every 
> time I turn it on.  By the way, this unit does NOT have an option to 
> disable the output.  I saw that was listed in one of the Timekeeper 
> documents that I found.
>
> It seems a shame to junk it when the repair is probably easy.  The 
> challenge is how to get into the thing in the first place.  Does anyone 
> have any hints & tips on how to open or repair one of these soldered-can 
> oscillators?  I found a page 
> <http://www.realhamradio.com/GPS-oven-journey.htm> that described 
> opening an HP 10811 from a Z3801A, but more ideas are always welcome.
>
> Thanks,
> Ed
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