Saber knob removal

[kf4sqb]

I know this has been covered on here before, but I can't seem to find it. How do I remove the knobs from a Saber without damaging them? I know they've got a little plastic insert in them, but I don't know if there is some kind of special procedure to remove them or not.

[Tom in D.C.]

Ryan,

I don't think Motorola designed Saber knobs to be removed/replaced. At least they
didn't think of this being done without the high possibility of destroying the knob and/or
the insert. But here's my approach to the question/problem:

1. Have new, spare knobs and inserts available.

2. Try to remove the knob with just finger pressure.

3. If that doesn't work, try prying up the knob with a very
small screwdriver. If the knob is old with fatigued plastic the
knob will turn white in the pressured area and probably break
and then it will come off. You lose the knob but it's off the radio.

4. If the knob comes off intact it may leave the insert on the
shaft, OR it may take the insert with it when it comes off. You
want the insert to STAY ON the shaft, because then all you have
to do is to put on the new knob. Getting the insert out of a knob
is a lousy job, and nearly impossible to do without breaking the insert.

5. Replace inserts with the same color insert because the alignment
tabs are in different locations of different colored inserts.

Overall, take you time, have spare knobs and inserts at hand , and be prepared
to wreck one or both knobs in the the process, especially if they're old
and suffering from "plastic fatigue."

Last thing is to get and use low profile knobs, which in my experience are
for some reason easier to work with. I believe Motorola is still selling them.

Regards,

[kf4sqb]

Thanks, Tom. I've never done this before, so I wasn't sure how to go about it. I managed to get them removed with no damage. I don't have any spare knobs here, so I was really lucky. I'm not trying to replace knobs here, I'm recasing.

[FireCpt809]

You dont have to take the knobs off to recase a saber.

[wavetar]

You dont have to take the knobs off to recase a saber.

Perhaps he's also replacing the top escutcheon as well?

[Tom in D.C.]

I'm sure he's pulling knobs so he can replace the escutcheon,
a lousy job that I always disliked having to do. I always tried
Q-tips and a touch of 409 first, just to see if I really had to go
and replace the thing.

[FireCpt809]

I hated doing that too. I actually just changed the whole top of one with a nice clean one from a water damaged saber. The q-tip and 409 is good too. I found that a good cleaner was the stuff you use on computer screens

[W6WAW]

Does anyone have the part numbers for the low-profile Saber knobs?

Thanks.

Fred

[Tom in D.C.]

REX4659A

Includes two knobs, one white line and one black line, plus
various color inserts and some black spacers.

[W6WAW]

Well, REX4659A is the correct part number but it is NLA from Motorola. I knew that the tall knobs were sold out but apparently that is now the case for the low profile ones also

[Tom in D.C.]

That's bad news but it had to happen sooner or later.
You might try escomm to get his advice on availability
of the item. Jeff "knows people."

Regards,

[kf4sqb]

I'm sure he's pulling knobs so he can replace the escutcheon,
a lousy job that I always disliked having to do. I always tried
Q-tips and a touch of 409 first, just to see if I really had to go
and replace the thing.

I was indeed replacing the top escutcheon, along with the rest of the case. I certainly would have preferred a Q-tip and some 409 first instead, but I don't really think that method will remove heat damage . The top edge of the case on the left side, and the left side of the top escutcheon, were both partially melted, I'm guessing from being in a fire. It was in that condition when I acquired it, and I'm guessing from the alpha tags on some of the channels in it when I got it that it used as a firefighting radio by it's previous owner. It still worked fine, the case just looked like hell.