Rotor Problems

[gabie]

Hello to all. I have one of those big old rotors for a cb antenna. The rotor only turns clockwise no matter which direction you turn the controller. It is wired 1red 2yellow 3white 4green. Maybe someone might have an idea of whats going on. Thanks to anyone that can help.

 

[zz0468]

No one is going to be able to help. That color coding means nothing. Just check the connections that you can easily reach and see if you can find something wrong. If you can't, pull it down and check again.

 

[gabie]

Thanks, the good thing is it isn't up yet. Still has the old wire from years ago(lot of taped up areas) so we'll try a short piece to see if the wire is bad. Thanks for trying.

 

[kb2vxa]

One thing you might try is looking inside the control box to see if there is a large capacitor in there. Many rotors use a split motor winding with that cap to change the phase relationship between the windings to change direction. Often that cap goes bad and the motor only turns one way if at all. Another thing to consider is a bad direction control switch or relay, I'd try working from the bottom up if you know what I mean, working on the rotor itself is a PITA that may be avoided if possible.

 

[gabie]

Well, we took the control apart and found one of the points had broken free from its rivet(under the winded cap). Got the piece back where she belongs, put it back together and now she works slicks as a minner. Thanks to all for the info, couldn't have done it without you.

 

[kb2vxa]

You're welcome but what is a "winded cap"? What means "slicks as a minner"?

 

[gabie]

The cap thing you were speaking of that changes the direction. A minner is a little fish that swims around in a creek that you try to catch in a minnow trap to use for bait to catch a bigger fish. Sorry I used some WV slang on you, can't help it , it's bred into me. Minner= Minnow. Hey thanks for your assistance.

 

[kb2vxa]

Oh, I thought the cap was out of breath and you were talking about Minner Pearl. HAOW-DEE!!! Kint git nuh Redneck slang uvver un THIS dang Yankee, speshully wenna bin sarcastic. (;->) Yer weulkum, naaw GIT 'ER DONE.