Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, 1 a.m. — I just finished reassembling and adjusting my latest acquisition to my bug collection, my early Go-Devil bug … yes, the same one I cursed just one day ago.
My Go-Devil has redeemed itself (pun intended). After putting the broken paddle back together (see previous entry), tonight I put it back on the key. I found myself with time on my hands tonight, so I decided to tempt fate and give this key a chance.
It is missing its weights, so I appropriated one from a late-model Vibroplex. I used some jumper leads to connect the key to the terminals of the last bug I used. Would this Go-Devil play?
As soon as I connected the terminals, my Yaesu’s sidetone was keyed. Hmmm … The key apparently was shorted (there was no circuit closer on the Go-Devil). This kind of problem is often related to missing or deteriorated insulators around the contact posts or on the flat contact strips on the bottom of the key.
The in-hole insulator on the dot contact post had rotted clean away, and fell into dust when I removed the mounting screw. The posts are much smaller than standard Vibroplex posts, so I had to do a little creative scrounging to come up with a suitable replacement.
I ended up using a very short piece of heat shrink tubing — just enough to insulate the screw as it passes through the cast iron base. The insulating bakelite washers on top and bottom of the contact posts were in fine shape. With that fix completed, it was time to fire up the key!
As you can see from the photo at right (click to enlarge), the key is “similar but different” from the Vibroplex as far as adjustments go. The keying lever is actually two levers with two separate pivots (note the screws on top that adjust pivot clearance). The right side lever has a an adjustment near the paddle that apparently controls spring tension on the other level (you can’t see it, but near the end of the left lever there is a small spring inserted between the levers. By adjusting the limit screw at the front, it changes the tension on that return spring at the rear of the two, parallel levers. Convoluted, but by golly, it works!).
To the rear of the pivot frame is the U-shaped fixture (cast as part of the base) that provided the keying lever’s side-to-side adjustments; the left side controls the throw for dits, the right side controls the return to “home.”
One of the crudest parts of this key is the damper; its functional, but decided low tech (and undoubtedly cheap!): The damper is nothing more than a brass rod that is bent downward at the business end. The pendulum slides up the curved part of the damper when it makes contact, and despite my initial skepticism, it not only works well, but its actually not as noisy as a lot of Vibroplex keys I have.
Check out the adjustments on the key — it struck me tonight that the adjustments on the K8RA paddles now sold use the same setup as the Go-Devil: The adjustment is simply a rod that is adjusted manually and secured with a set screw. Not exactly a high-tech way to do it, but it does work. It’s tough to make fine adjustments easily, it can take a couple of tries.
With a Vibroplex 1-ounce weight on the pendulum, it was time to try the key out. It took some fiddling around, but I found the key’s sweet spot; I was surprised how usable the key actually is (I had heard the key was difficult to operate and adjust). I haven’t had it in use on the air (the dot contact is dirty and needs cleaning because its scratchy), but once adjusted it has a very good feel to it.
The base is solid cast iron, and its hefty — to say the least. It may be friction or wear, but this key has a lower “low” speed than most bugs I own. It has a surprisingly crisp, light movement, too. Without the finger button (it was missing when I got it), it feels a little funny to use. I’m going to pick up a button from an old straight key for use on this one.
In short, the Go-Devil is a fiendishly interesting key to operate, and a hell of a lot of fun to play around with. I plan on cleaning up the contacts and I would love to put this one on the air. What a great key to put on the air for one of the SKCC sprints, lol!