Robyn SB-520 channel selector ribbon cable install issue

[Lkaskel]

Hi Everyone,
Have you ever tried to fix something and said "boy do I wish I had not done that!!". Well, I am servicing an SB-520 (Uniden 858 board) and the receive would cut out a lot. I quickly found that the ribbon cable was not making good contact in the socket in the PLL section. The pins on the socket were actually black. I decided to pull the cable out and clean the socket. Now I can't get the ribbon cable back in. The pins on the socket seem too tight. Does anyone have a trick here? Boy do I wish I had not removed that cable

Thanks!!

 

[doffo]

I usually was just careful putting the ribbon back in by using my finger/thumb of each hand onto either side of the ribbon cable carefully pinching (Dont have long fingernails.), then push little by little downard on each side. Surely it should go back in?

 

[TM86]

I had a similar problem on a Johnson 4125. In that I do stupid things and that was one of them.

What I ended up doing was getting some stiff plastic off a trail mix bag (Safeway store brand) and using that to reinforce the cable for insertion, then held the cable in place while pulling the plastic bit out with pliers.

It worked, but it wasn't fun.

I put the plastic on the side of the ribbon cable with the exposed copper because I didn't want those contacts curling up on me if they had become delaminated from the ribbon substrate.

Haven't tried that trick on a SB-520, so your mileage may vary.

 

[Lkaskel]

You have noted my challenge with the copper curling up. I like that idea and will try it. I will certainly never do that again.......until I do.....

Thanks!