WACOM 604

You have to get a big wrench and pull out the center. The whole construction of this rod will be six pieces. After it is out you will unscrew the center rod until it comes apart. Now comes the fun stuff. Get a torch and unsolder the end nut on the larger rod. As you heat, lightly tap it off. The nut is brass and can crack. It will come apart in two pieces. Now you will need a large pipe cutter. No hack saw here. Cut 8 inches off the top. Clean the nut and top plate off so it will fit back together. Shave with a knife the inside of the large pipe. Now sweat fit the pieces back together with a good quality solder. I also use flux to help the solder flow. Remember what the unit looked like at the beginning. It might be a good idea to take pictures as you go along so as to help in the reconstruction. Moving along, you will now unsolder the center rod from its shaft. Push the rod forward and remove the disk. Now you will cut 8 inches off the solid rod. Do not cut the center tuning rod . Also be careful not to damage the finger stock. Round off the end of the rod so it fits back on the disk and solder it back into place on the center rod. Now put the two rods back together. Next you will have to drill out the rivets on the bottom of the can then remove the bottom. Look inside and you will see the Teflon spacer. On the outside of the can is the mounting screw. Measure up 9 inches from that screw and drill a new hole. Once the holes are drilled, reach in and position the spacer into its new position keeping the hole straight. Re-rivet the bottom back on the can and put the tuning rod back. After the duplexer has been modified you will need to take the long coax on the notches located on the side of the can and shorten them to about 4 inches tip to tip. The other side of the can be left alone. The wire harness can also be left the way it is if the cans were in the 45 to 50Mhz rang. If you have a lower frequency set, the harness may have to be shortened. Along with both notch stubs.

When you start the mod feel free to call me if you have any questions.

Pat KB0QYC

We're modifiy a set of Wacom 604b now. Will post what we do at a later date.