I have a mid-90’s original and found that a female-female UHF coupler slides snugly on the end of the shaft. It gets me down to 16 WPM when I need to QRS.
I did something like this. But I have the luxury of a Sherline lathe, so I was able to machine up the extension out of brass rod stock. I also machined up three weights. Works very well!
Stan, got my new Vibroplex last week, and used your modification to slow it down a little. This modification worked great-very easy, and very effective!
For a Lightning bug with the flat pendulum I just got a 7/16” socket for 1/4” drive and put a bolt with a washer attached to the existing weight. Try different socket wrench sockets to get the speed you want. Loosen the bolt to slide it to adjust
I was given a Vibroplex by one of my local ops, and it was way too fast for this newbie to learn with. The bushing that holds the pendulum on the top was missing, as he dropped it on a Field Day a few years back, and it was rendered useless. He gave it to me, and I crafted a bushing of sorts to make it work, and added a few stick-on wheel weights to get the speed to slow down. It works, but I like your solution much better!
Speed shouldn't be the major goal; accuracy trumps speed and the best way to conquer a bug is to slow it down so the newbie can make every movement deliberate. With a little [regular] practice, it all eventually becomes second nature. At that point, CW *REALLY* becomes fun!!! Stick with it, Mark. 73.
A good idea. But my Zephyr doesn't have a round arm, and it has a peg that sticks out to hit the damper wheel. I'll work on it, because I'm definitely not a 25 wpm guy yet, and that appears to be about as slow as a stock Vibroplex goes with correct dits and dahs timing.
Awesome mod. I’m gonna do that to mine. I added weights to mine from the hardware store, but couldn’t get it much below about 13wpm. That extension would be perfect. 👍🏻
Stan great little mod there. I have this bug circa 1960 and went just a tad further and actually threaded the end of the rod so it would accept a small brass coupler and an extending rod to fit the original weight. Same result, but to me it's a tad more aesthetic. Cheers & 73s
Cheaper: drill out lead fishing sinkers and cinch them on the arm with the screw weight. Got mine down to 10 wpm back in the day. But fist nothing like yours. You and WE6W are the best I've heard!
Did same thing with my deluxe chrome model but used brass for both pieces & soldered them together... works FB about 13-15 wpm - mine came with 3 weights, 2 small, 1 large which I moved out past the damper.. 73 de K9PLG
Yeah, I finally tried a higher resolution upload and it worked, perhaps because the video is so short. In any case, thanks, David, for your compliment and enjoy your CW Machine. It's the best station accessory I've ever owned. 73, Stan
Great Job! It's amazing how simple solutions can be right under your nose but it take the right person to discover them. Thanks for sharing this great idea. 73, K8BZ
Very nice idea. Thank you. Forgive me, but the video quality was very poor. It was out of focus, and It looks like the bug was made of jello (it is moving). Also, you really need to take an antihistamine. I hope you have gotten a new camera, a video light, and some nose spray.
I have a mid-90’s original and found that a female-female UHF coupler slides snugly on the end of the shaft. It gets me down to 16 WPM when I need to QRS.
I did something like this. But I have the luxury of a Sherline lathe, so I was able to machine up the extension out of brass rod stock. I also machined up three weights. Works very well!
… genius idea - thanks for sharing! I will give this a try …
Stan, got my new Vibroplex last week, and used your modification to slow it down a little. This modification worked great-very easy, and very effective!
For a Lightning bug with the flat pendulum I just got a 7/16” socket for 1/4” drive and put a bolt with a washer attached to the existing weight. Try different socket wrench sockets to get the speed you want. Loosen the bolt to slide it to adjust
Excellent thinking on the bug slow down.
Best idea I have seen so far. Thanks
I was given a Vibroplex by one of my local ops, and it was way too fast for this newbie to learn with. The bushing that holds the pendulum on the top was missing, as he dropped it on a Field Day a few years back, and it was rendered useless. He gave it to me, and I crafted a bushing of sorts to make it work, and added a few stick-on wheel weights to get the speed to slow down. It works, but I like your solution much better!
Speed shouldn't be the major goal; accuracy trumps speed and the best way to conquer a bug is to slow it down so the newbie can make every movement deliberate. With a little [regular] practice, it all eventually becomes second nature. At that point, CW *REALLY* becomes fun!!! Stick with it, Mark. 73.
A good idea. But my Zephyr doesn't have a round arm, and it has a peg that sticks out to hit the damper wheel. I'll work on it, because I'm definitely not a 25 wpm guy yet, and that appears to be about as slow as a stock Vibroplex goes with correct dits and dahs timing.
Awesome mod. I’m gonna do that to mine. I added weights to mine from the hardware store, but couldn’t get it much below about 13wpm. That extension would be perfect. 👍🏻
Fantastic price for an extension on your Morse key. Thanks mate for sharing a good idea.
Stan great little mod there. I have this bug circa 1960 and went just a tad further and actually threaded the end of the rod so it would accept a small brass coupler and an extending rod to fit the original weight. Same result, but to me it's a tad more aesthetic. Cheers & 73s
Works like a charm. Thanks for the great idea!
How do you keep the alum tubing from sliding back and forth on the Vibroplex arm? It just slides on there loose, right?
Cheaper: drill out lead fishing sinkers and cinch them on the arm with the screw weight. Got mine down to 10 wpm back in the day. But fist nothing like yours. You and WE6W are the best I've heard!
Did same thing with my deluxe chrome model but used brass for both pieces & soldered them together... works FB about 13-15 wpm - mine came with 3 weights, 2 small, 1 large which I moved out past the damper.. 73 de K9PLG
Thank you for your wonderful idea.
As always, great stuff Stan!
How long do you make the 3/16 alum tube so it doesn't screw anything up down where the actual keying takes place? Thanks, newbie N9DMS Dave
Excellent mod, thanks for sharing Stan. PS: good video quality also. Got my CW machine a few days ago and loving it so far.
Yeah, I finally tried a higher resolution upload and it worked, perhaps because the video is so short. In any case, thanks, David, for your compliment and enjoy your CW Machine. It's the best station accessory I've ever owned. 73, Stan
Great Job! It's amazing how simple solutions can be right under your nose but it take the right person to discover them. Thanks for sharing this great idea. 73, K8BZ
Realy good thanks for sharing
Focus! But good idea.
This is very helpful
Like 'lasses in wintertime...wow, never heard such a sluggish bug.
Whoot! there you go--you made a Slug of the Bug. Feel free to use that. 73 de W1ADE
Very nice idea. Thank you. Forgive me, but the video quality was very poor. It was out of focus, and It looks like the bug was made of jello (it is moving). Also, you really need to take an antihistamine. I hope you have gotten a new camera, a video light, and some nose spray.
More like 12s😉
Very nice 👍 KE5MUG