Eric Stein �How it started:
eBay
How it's going:
eBay
How it's going:
The rear end had metal chips coming out.. not a lot of leverage available here I think. May have to drill it out.
To be clear, those chips are from the various slots and divots someone made in the cartridge tube (at the other end) and the metal chips just fell down the cartridge tube and piled up in the hole at the back. I've cleaned them out.
Sent the seller a message on eBay about it, but I'm really not expecting much since it was an as-is listing. Ordered another parts unit and will try to make one complete and working Portacount 8020A setup using this part from the "for parts" 8020 and some of the accessories from it. Hopefully no surprises this time...
The parts unit also has the cartridge tube stuck. Trying an isopropyl alcohol soak, may add thermal cycling on top of that to dislodge. I also ordered some internal pipe wrenches which might work but will have to think that through, as I don't want to make the problem worse like the prior owner of my first unit did and I don't want to scratch or deform anything even a little.
#PortaCount #8020AGang #RepairShop #Damnit
#PortaCount #8020AGang #RepairShop #Damnit
Interesting. These are the backs of the main boards of an 8020 (lighter green) and an 8020A (darker green). It kind of makes sense that the 8020A has a board that says model 8020 because the 8020A is an upgrade of the 8020 to support the optional N95 Companion product. There might be board revisions that aren't reflected in the model number.
Day long isopropyl alcohol soak, black rubber sheet tube liner, plus Internal pipe wrench and bam, it's out! Barely needed any effort. #8020AGang
There was some (technical term here) white crud in there, and it appears a bit of corrosion of the aluminum cartridge tube as well.
Earlier this morning I filed smooth the rough corroded parts and cleaned out the receptacle part. The cartridge is now easy to put in and take out and it's where it belongs once more (in the storage jar). Now I can reassemble this tonight. Looking forward to it!
I reassembled this #PortaCount.. but I am not getting any particles counted. After this I tried cleaning the sample cone and that didn't help. I'm not sure if disassembly may have misaligned the optics, there's something wrong with the laser diode or other parts, or if I made some other mistake. I haven't done every step of the cleaning procedures yet. It's not the cartridge, and air is flowing in the inlets and coming out the exhaust.
I have a lot more to learn..
Chris Agocs