Eton FR-350

[k9rzz]

I picked up three of these on eBay for $10, none operational, but I figured that out of three that I could get ONE working.

I've got one running on AAA batteries and it's pretty nice. I'm listening to WYFR on shortwave and earlier had China Radio Internaional. I can hear WWV for the current time, and it seems to work well on AM and FM as well.

Taking one apart is a challenge. Remove the screws in the back and then carefully pry the side covers off next, then the the two main halves starting at the hand crank. The halves are glued together! Granted, there is a water proofing gasket in there too, but just be careful when you do it.

On two of mine, the hand crank has no resistance - for good reason, two of the teeth on one of the plastic gears are broken! The gears are heavily lubricated to help prevent that, but it they still sheered off.

I will try to fix that and post results (with pix).

[k9rzz]

Here's a disected FR-350 showing the hand crank power generator.



What's happened is that several of the teeth on that second gear have been sheered off by
cranking too hard.



I've tried to rebuild a few of those teeth, but without much success yet.



JB Weld doesn't adhere to the original plastic too well. Super Glue adheres very well,
but is difficult to build up any thickness even with 4 or 5 layers letting each dry in between
applications. Certainly getting a new gear would be best, but I doubt that in all of China,
I'd have much luck in getting some.

Anyone have any experience in fixing plastic gears?

I wonder if glue from a hot glue gun would be suitable? Hmmmm ....

[bubbaearle]

It would be great if you could find someone that casts metal to make you a new gear. Cheap plastic gears are the weak link in an otherwise great radio.