Upgrading the Ten Tec Limited Edition to a Deluxe Vibroplex
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Upgrading the Ten Tec Limited Edition to a Deluxe Vibroplex |
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| Last September while attending the TenTec Hamfest, my wife Kathy, WQ5T, snuck out one of the new "TenTec Limited Edition" Iambic paddles by Vibroplex. If I remember correctly there were only 200 to be made and my wife knows that I have an affection for CW Keys. So she decided it would make a great stocking stuffer for Christmas, to which is was. My serial number for the Ten Tec Limited Vibroplex is TT-I008. The Ten Tec Limited base is the prefect match for the Jupiter and the newer Ten Tec gear! Since I am not the only guy that loves a nice new CW Key, it didn't take long for many of these Ten Tec Limited keys to be snapped up. With the internet making the world a lot closer, I began seeing posts about the Ten Tec Limited paddle being just the Standard Iambic Vibroplex model without the jeweled upper and lower trunion screws. The jeweled trunion screws are bearings for the finger lever bars. Since this was a gift from my wife I will never part with it, so I decided to do a little upgrading to make the TenTec Limited into a Deluxe version of a Vibroplex paddle. There has been some controversy on the internet about Vibroplex's quality going downhill. Since I have keys in my collection that are from the previous past two Vibroplex owners I can't see much difference to get excited about. Remember these Vibroplexs are not a $500 machined Hensley! In the past ( before Vibroplex moved to Alabama ) to get my old Vibroplexs to run great for me I had to order new springs, contacts, and contacts posts. I still have these extra parts today. So to say the quality has gone down hill I am so not convinced. I know the new owner Mitch, if notified, of a problem will do everything in his power to correct it. So if your key has a flaw why not give him a buzz before going on the internet? There are many things I like about the newer Alabama Vibroplex keys such as the metal Vibroplex logo plate, which is pinned solidly to the base like the first Vibroplex keys were. I hated the sticker logos from the previous company, which always came off after awhile. For new comers to CW and keys, the Vibroplex keys of today are still using the same cast parts as all of their predecessors from many decades ago. The adjustments are course threaded and require a more careful adjustment than a fine threaded screw set. If you are interested in keeping your TenTec paddle as I am and you may also want to upgrade the parts of your Ten Tec Limited to a deluxe paddle, see the procedure below. Really, I didn't notice much difference after the upgrade, but having the jeweled trunions in the paddle made me feel better. A drop of DeoxIT on the standard trunion pins and careful adjustment maybe all you need if you want to keep the Ten Tec Limited in stock form. Keys are very subjective! There is no right or wrong key, just what key is right for you. Not that I am an expert, but I've had many CW keys in my shack over the years and the way some are constructed just plain send better in my hand than others I have used. It depends on ones physical build and ability. These same keys that I couldn't make work for me were magnificent in the hands of others! What's funny is that I love use some keys that I don't send very well on because I like the way they sound (tactical click) and look. To love to do CW you have to make it fun. Some of the fun for me is using different keys. Also cleaning and spending hours adjusting them is a pleasure for me. To make a key play great here is what I have learned. First is to set everything up square, use DeoxIT on all contact parts and screws, same spacing on the contacts, and light tension on the springs or magnets. I use close spacing on the contacts. The light tension and close spacing sure keeps the wrist from hurting as much. Depending on the key I can go down to under a .100 of an inch of contact spacing, but most of the time I back out the contact spacing just a little to hear a little tactical click. Speaking of tactical clicks, the Single lever Vibrokeyer is still being produced today and for me is one of the best single lever paddles ever made! I just bought a new one and what a riot to hear that tactical bong while sending with it. Again my spacing is very tight, but you can still hear the personality of the Vibrokeyer in the air! The Vibrokeyer was built for the old Hall TO keyer. Together Hall and the Vibrokeyer started the electronic CW revolution we enjoy today. That is another story. So let's get going on converting the Ten Tec Limited from a "Standard" to the Vibroplex "Deluxe". |
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The new levers along with the jewelled upper and lower trunion screws. |
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3. A look at the jewels and the lever pins. |
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4. A look at the jewels and the lever pins. |
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5. A close up view of the stock upper trunion bearings. |
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6. Ditto for the lower trunion bearings. |
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Step one is to back out the tension springs. Notice the bright metal logo
label made it hard on my camera. |
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Next step is to back out the lower trunion screw, but before you do this
be sure to back out the trunion lock screws! Sorry no picture of these
yet, but they are top side, under the lever bars, and on the logo side
of the Mainframe. After backing out the locking screws then it is OK to
start backing out the lower trunion screws. Be sure to hold on to the
lever bar so not to let it fall and scratch up the other parts please! |
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The old VS. the new? Or the Standard VS. the Deluxe? Anyway the old lever
is on top and the new one is on the bottom. Notice the rounded tip for
the jeweled trunion bearing. |
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10. A closer look at the trunion points of the lever bars. |
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11.
The lower trunion screws. "Standard" to the left and "Deluxe"
(Jeweled) to the right. |
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Upper trunion screws. Test tomorrow--- which one is the Deluxe trunion
screw? You guys are good! The left one, of course. |
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13.
The old upper trunion screws that came on the TenTec Limited. One thing
you will need to get these out is to have the right wrench set. You can
get the Midget Combination Standard Wrench Set from Craftsman, etc. The
size is an all American 3/16 for an all American key! |
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14.
Another look at the upper trunion screws. Look at that gorgeous Ten Tec
Limited Base. |
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15.
New "Deluxe" jeweled trunion
upper screws installed in the mainframe. |
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16.
The finger or as Vibroplex calls them, "Thumb Pieces" are installed
on to the new levers along with the contacts. Now just do a reverse order
on how you took it apart. Your almost ready for the next 40m fox hunt! |
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OK now for the fun part! Adjusting and re-adjusting all your fine work!
First just snug up the lower trunion screws so there is no up and down
slop on the levers. but letting them still move free from side to side.
Also when you tighten up the lower trunion lock screws this may make the
levers hard to move. Remember these are coarse threads so just barely
tighten up the lock screws and then back out the lower trunions just a
little. Don't get discouraged! It sometimes it take me an hour/hours to
get it all right. |
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18.
Then work on getting the contacts in line with each other and square with
the contact post. This is real important to getting a key to play right!
Not just on the Ten Tec Limited, but on all paddle type keys. Notice I
still have more work to do. You should have a small space in-between the
contact and the lever bar. Also you may have to adjust the contact post
a little. It takes time to get it right. Be careful not to jam the adjusting
contact screws up against the lever contacts. |
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19.
As you move the adjusting contacts closer you may need to realign the
lever contacts. See I told you this would be FUN! When you turn the adjusting
screw contacts you will notice a little up and down motions. So when you
tighten up the locking nut for the spacing you need, guess what? You may
need to touch up the lever contact again. Why---coarse threads. Real CW
men know their keys inside and out. |
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20.
Another look at the contacts. I forgot to mention that when you install
the levers be sure to install the springs at the SAME time. Do not squash
them up and try to install them after the levers are. They will be ruined
if you do. Never pull or squeeze the springs for tension. If the spring
adjusting screws can't get the tension you like them order a few sets
for Vibroplex and try cutting them a 1/8 turn at a time. You should not
need more than a full turn of the spring. |
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21. Just another shot of the all important contacts! |
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22. Not another one, hi. |
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23. Well we have to have all angles right? |
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24. Ditto here |
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25. Over head shot from the Mainframe. |
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26. Over head shot from the right. |
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27.
All done. Over the next few weeks you Ten Tec Limited may require a small
tweak or two. No worries now that you are the expert. You may also notice
small changes in adjustment due to temperature changes. So a temperature
change of 10 degrees in the shack from winter to summer you may or may
not need to tweak. |
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28.
A guys best friend, I mean the DeoxIT. This is the best stuff I have used
for improving conductivity. I use it on screw threads, tube pins, switches
(but not on high power RF), pots, etc. On my antique Collins 75A4 I DeoxIT
the volume control and never had to do it again or replace it! After the
DeoxIT treatment the volume control feel like glass. However your mileage
may vary. |
Done, now go and make some contacts! - 73 de jay.. |
| Last edited 20th April 2003 |
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