Mike,

Hope you can get this sorted out.   If you have mechanical or soldering 
issues to deal with, that is a whole different thing, but the cleaning 
shouldn't be a big deal.     The inductor and the little wheel (or 
whatever in your unit)  are silver plated and get coated with oxidation 
and crud over time.

You should follow the instructions particular to your unit, but in the 
"for what it's worth" department, here is a snip from the manual for the 
Palstar unit I have:

**
  Once every 4-6 months clean the roller coil with 70% isopropyl alcohol
    and a clean cotton cloth. Do not transfer any of the conducting grease
   on the rod that guides the roller wheel as this will contaminate the 
windings
   on the roller coil body.

**

Since you have a known "problem spot", you may want to  count the turns 
to that bad spot so when the cover is off you can get to that spot and 
have your sighted helper  give that area a close  look.

I don't clean mine as often as they suggest, but if I let it go too long 
I see some of the  same things you see, such as erratic swr and a  loud 
squeal when turning the knob.


73, good luck, Steve KW3A





on 1/19/2014 9:03 AM, Mike Ryan wrote:
> Hi All:
>
> well I just got back from a weekend at the cottage and even though I didn't
> do much operating, when I did, the ATU issue returned.
> So through a process of alimination, 1ST I rotated the roller inductor knob
> and heard a very pronounced scratching/static noise.
> I removed the ground from the back of the tuner, thinking that the cause
> was the ground wire coming into contact with the feedline and still the SWR
> spikes occured.
> Lastly I tapped and jiggled the roller inductor knob a few times and low
> and be hold, the problem went away.
> There's also a very loud squeaking when I rotate the roller knob as well.
> So here's what I'm gonna do. The next time I'm out to the cottage, my XYL
> and I, through some help from the list, are gonna perform sergery on that
> tuner.
> I'd like to do a skype communication, although I'm not sure how well the
> skype will work through the 3G iPhone as a personal hotspot, which is what
> I  use when I'm out there as we have no internet or cable TV.
> If skype fails, we could possibly use HF, I'd hook up the 570 and take care
> of it that way or if all else fails, a good old fashioned ph call.
> I really don't want to junk this tuner if I don't have too, I think it just
> needs a good clean up, possibly a couple of solders and everything should
> be ok.
> Also, I'm saving for an amp and I found out yesterday that it was prefered
> that I'd take the AL-811, now H instead of 811, instead of the KW-1000 due
> to its age.
> Not only that, I can have this 811H for 500 and MFJ will still fix this
> thing if something goes wrong. There's a little bit of a power play
> happening with this amp though.
> The thoughts are its a 600W amp, which is why the Gentleman who's
> liquidating the estate, is willing to let me have it.
> He thinks the KW is a real KW SSB amp. LOL
> So back on the tuner for a moment, what should I pick up with regards to
> oil for the roller inductor knob and is rubbing Aalchahol fine for contact
> cleaner?
> Hope I can get some help with this in a couple of weeks.
>
> TNX and 73:
>
> Michael DE VO1AX
>
> P S
>
> Contact me off list who's willing to help with the sergury for my contact
> info.
>
>
>