AVO tube tester spares

AuroraB · 24th January 2007, 07:53 AM

I just managed to salvage the old AVO VCM 163 tube tester we had stuffed away here at work.
One of the thumdwheels are broken, though....
Anybody seen any sources for spare parts ??????
( I do have the manuals....)

EC8010 · 24th January 2007, 10:14 AM

First, let me tell you that taking apart one of those thumbwheel assemblies and reassembling it is not for the faint-hearted. I took apart and reassembled an assembly from an earlier tester...

I don't have the old assembly and my VCM163 to hand, so I can't confirm that the thumbwheels are the same. They might be. What you could do is to take the thumbwheel assembly apart and move the broken thumbwheel to a less frequently used position such as pins 12 and 13. You might even be able to glue the broken thumbwheel back together while you're at it. At the same time, you could give the internals of the thumbwheel assembly a good clean. This will enable better contacts and reduced friction will mean you stress the thumbwheels less as you use them.

Before you do all this work, I'd check that the rest of the tester works.

AuroraB · 24th January 2007, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EC8010
First, let me tell you that taking apart one of those thumbwheel assemblies and reassembling it is not for the faint-hearted.

You bet I do know!!! I've been in the business of ancient electronics life prolongation for more than 30 years............

Does this mean that you might have one or two spare sections??
The old switch was swapped for a row of pin connector, which works of course, but still look kind'a silly!
Does it work ? - I don't know! I used it some 20 years ago, and it was OK then. It needs some touching up, for sure, but right now my home work desk is completely covered in house renovation tools and stuff!

EC8010 · 24th January 2007, 01:20 PM

No, I don't really have a spare. One of these days, I intend to make a curve tracer, and when I do, it will need a selector switch to connect it to the sockets...

AuroraB · 24th January 2007, 02:39 PM

I do have some thumbwheels, but none that fits the VCM...
Do you have switches that are AVO compatible, and how many sections do you need for your project????

John Caswell · 24th January 2007, 03:56 PM

Hi AuroraB,
Give this guy Gerry a call/email. He specialises in repairing/selling valve testers of all types and may have some spares

Gerry
Crowthorne Tubes, Berkshire, UK
www.crowthornetubes.com
sales@crowthornetubes.com
Tel: +44 (0)1344 776542
1000 – 2000 hours mon - sat

John Caswell

Eusebius · 26th January 2007, 11:15 AM

I bought a new thumbwheel set for the AVO from Colomor. I don't know if he has any more. Mine was for the AVO mk 4.

bolly · 26th January 2007, 08:43 PM

congrats on getting a vary desireable tester AuroraB, I have one and am still learning how to use her, sorry though, I don't have any parts for you. I just wanted to congratulate you!

24th January 2007, 07:53 AM	#1
AuroraB diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Norway, -north of the moral circle..	AVO tube tester spares I just managed to salvage the old AVO VCM 163 tube tester we had stuffed away here at work. One of the thumdwheels are broken, though.... Anybody seen any sources for spare parts ?????? ( I do have the manuals....)

24th January 2007, 10:14 AM	#2
EC8010 diyAudio Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Near London. UK	First, let me tell you that taking apart one of those thumbwheel assemblies and reassembling it is not for the faint-hearted. I took apart and reassembled an assembly from an earlier tester... I don't have the old assembly and my VCM163 to hand, so I can't confirm that the thumbwheels are the same. They might be. What you could do is to take the thumbwheel assembly apart and move the broken thumbwheel to a less frequently used position such as pins 12 and 13. You might even be able to glue the broken thumbwheel back together while you're at it. At the same time, you could give the internals of the thumbwheel assembly a good clean. This will enable better contacts and reduced friction will mean you stress the thumbwheels less as you use them. Before you do all this work, I'd check that the rest of the tester works. __________________ The loudspeaker: The only commercial Hi-Fi item where a disproportionate part of the budget isn't spent on the box. And the one where it would make a difference...

24th January 2007, 01:20 PM	#4
EC8010 diyAudio Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Near London. UK	No, I don't really have a spare. One of these days, I intend to make a curve tracer, and when I do, it will need a selector switch to connect it to the sockets... __________________ The loudspeaker: The only commercial Hi-Fi item where a disproportionate part of the budget isn't spent on the box. And the one where it would make a difference...

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24th January 2007, 02:39 PM	#5
AuroraB diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Norway, -north of the moral circle..	I do have some thumbwheels, but none that fits the VCM... Do you have switches that are AVO compatible, and how many sections do you need for your project????

24th January 2007, 03:56 PM	#6
John Caswell diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Berkshire UK	Hi AuroraB, Give this guy Gerry a call/email. He specialises in repairing/selling valve testers of all types and may have some spares Gerry Crowthorne Tubes, Berkshire, UK www.crowthornetubes.com sales@crowthornetubes.com Tel: +44 (0)1344 776542 1000 – 2000 hours mon - sat John Caswell

26th January 2007, 11:15 AM	#7
Eusebius diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2006	I bought a new thumbwheel set for the AVO from Colomor. I don't know if he has any more. Mine was for the AVO mk 4.

26th January 2007, 08:43 PM	#8
bolly diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2006	congrats on getting a vary desireable tester AuroraB, I have one and am still learning how to use her, sorry though, I don't have any parts for you. I just wanted to congratulate you!

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