saba: SABA 300 Automatic Stereo 11 Dial Cord Band Selector Clutch

For information only - in case another SABA 300 has this problem.

As is typical with many old radios, even when they enjoy regular use, the stations may not get changed that often. Favorite stations are pre-tuned on each band (usually FM and AM), and then the radio waits to be turned on occasionally. In this case, the AM/SW/Marine band dial cord had not received any regular exercise for months, or maybe even several years.

Discovered the tuning knob for the AM band was not moving the dial pointer. At first, it was intermittent, but it quickly got worse. It appeared that the dial cord was not broken, because rotating the tuning knob back and forth many times caused the dial pointer to move a little bit. Got the radio onto the workbench, and discovered that the dial cord band selector clutch was slipping out of position when the piano key selector switch was in the AM band position. The clutch was designed to engage either one of two separate dial cords – one for AM (also controls the SW and Marine bands) and another for the FM band. The clutch was engaging securely on the FM band, which reduced the scope of the problem.

First, to reduce potential friction points, examined and carefully lubricated all associated dial cord pulleys. Applied Labelle 108 (light-weight synthetic oil), and DeoxIT, but after further scrutiny, the clutch seemed to be the real problem. While holding the clutch in place with minimal finger pressure, the tuning knob at the front of the radio moved the pointer up and down the dial freely. Nothing was binding or inhibiting movement.

Ultimately, the clutch was adjusted, and repaired by tightening the two screws (one on each side of the clutch cylinder) found under factory-original orange quality-control paint. See attached annotated photos.

Attachments:

• radio_SABA_300_dial_cord_band_selector_clutch_annotated_16nov2019c (127 KB)
• radio_Saba_300_dial_cord_annotated_16nov2019i (138 KB)
• radio_Saba_300_dial_cord_band_clutch_annotated_19nov2019j (74 KB)

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