7L5/Repairs
Intermittent Rotary Encoder
The "Dot Frequency" and "Reference Level" rotary encoders can become faulty so that they either do not work at all or just cause random unpredictable changes when operated. The good news is that they are mechanical switches constructed from hard gold contact traces on the front panel PCB, and all elements are held together by screws. They can be accessed by separating the front panel from the 7L5 and removing the front panel overlay. Simply cleaning the gold traces on the PCBs with isopropyl alcohol and carefully bending the contact fingers slightly outward to reestablish contact force will restore operation. See the figures below.
Front Panel Disassembly
The 7L5 is constructed of two main modules and the front panel assembly. The left module hinges outwards once a few screws are removed, and with further screw removal the complete front panel assembly comes off. When further disassembling the front panel not the unconventional "Frequency Span" and "Time/Div" switches. These are entirely build into the respectable knobs and can be pulled off from the front panel after removing two fasteners at the back. Note that the "Time/Div" switch has very thin metal contact fingers that fit into a socket on the front panel PCB. To guide installation there is a little plastic spacer with conical holes for those pins. Make sure to install this spacer in the right orientation before attempting to reinstall the "Time/Div" switch.
Pictures
Front Panel
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Front panel Overlay (Military version without B-(save A) )
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Front panel with overlay removed in frame
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Front panel backside in frame
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Front panel frontside
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Front panel backside
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Front panel backside with Reference Level switch partially disassembled
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Front panel backside with Reference Level switch removed. Parts of switch with sliding contacts shown below.
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Front panel frontside with Reference Level switch removed. Switch gold contact traces visible
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Span and Time/Div. switch backsides
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Span and Time/Div. switch sideview
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Front panel with Time/Div. switch removed. Note plastic spacer on the right
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Front panel plastic spacer for Time/Div. switch installed in correct orientation, ready for switch installation.
