The dial cord on my radio was slipping around the shaft. It would only go one direction (to the right), but it wouldn't turn back. I tried everything from chalk dust to candle wax. Nothing was working. I took a Q-tip and soaked it in isopropyl alcohol and gently touched it to the spots where the red arrows are pointing in my drawing. Then I turned the tuning knob to the right and some very fine strands of the cotton got sucked up around the shaft. Then I had enough grip for it to turn to the left. I kept feeding the cotton in thin light increments into the coil around the shaft. Before I knew it, it was built up around it a little bit and there was no more slippage! Not only did it fix the slippage, but it added tension to the dial cord (it was a bit sloppy, but not why it was slipping).

Anyway, that's my little trick. Not positive how long it will last, but the cotton is wound very nicely and tight around the shaft. So there you go, quick fix!

I recently acquired a Zenith H845 that couldn't run the pointer past 106.5 FM, or so. I ran across an old post on this board from someone who described an almost identical symptom and they said a squirt of contact cleaner solved it. And, by golly, it did on mine too, with just a quirt or two from the front, knob off, on the tuning shaft.

Apparently a 'squeaky clean' shaft works better than a dirty one.

I doubt if that fix will last long. It's best to do the job right the first time, and not worry about it.

It worked for a bit, you're right. Temporary fix if you need to tune pronto. I accidentally got WD40 on the shaft where the cord is and now I can't keep it from slipping. Any tips?

WD-40 is really insidious stuff.... Might need to use a degreaser to remove it completely. Try some Flux-Remover spray?

If the dial cord has a spring on it, remove the spring from where it is attached, loop another turn around the shaft, then reconnect the spring.

Dial cord popped off

It makes a complete loop, with crimped clamps on it. I'm avoiding cutting it. We got it back on after 4 hours of trying, but the string is crossing one another on the pulley wheel, causing unecessary chafe and tension. Lots of slack now in the string, will probably have to take it off and put another two wraps around the shaft.

Question, there's yellow dust on the pulley wheel, don't tell me that's cadmium? Or something lethal?

Thanks Johnnysan.

Probably the remnants of liquid rosin applied years ago to prevent slippage

If in doubt, don't go licking it

I'll add that to my quote book, very good advice, actually

Fixed it. 5+ hours later, the hook on the spring THROUGH my thumb, some bandaids, and some arguing with my dad, I got it done.

I added 2-3 extra wraps around the shaft. Didn't hack the original loop. Taught and no slipping, as of right now. I'm happy.

But the q-tip cotton is a good quick temporary fix. Thanks guys.

Use the wax from the capacitors you replace, You can heat one rub on dial string or before you install a new cord, Pull new cord across the old Paper cap.
The wax works great !!
Peter

Great idea! Thank you.

All great ideas, but for what it's worth, got some violin bow rosin at a music store and ran the dial string over it.

Agree with all, anything that works is fine. If you really wwanted to fix it, you would disassemble it all, lube, clean and rough up the place where the cord of the control moves the string. Very fine sandpaper would be fine. Then replace the cord, make sure the spring maintains constant pressure on the winding, and all other turrets are well lubricated. BTW unwaxed dental floss really works OK, as does braided nylon fishing tacke cord. Leave the rosin for the bows.

"Roughed up"... Oh, I've had success with that on a couple of radios.

Sometimes, it's just so well used that the knob shaft is just smooth as glass in the area where the dial cord runs.

I've taken a small file and filed - lightly - diagonally on the shaft at that point in order to put some sort of even, crosshatch pattern on it.

Mike Y
Dallas, Texas