How do you get the dial centre cover off a 706 phone? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

andy1702 · 24th Jun 2015, 7:41 pm

Is there a special way of getting the dial cover off a 706 that I'm not aware of? I use the bit of tape across the dial trick on 746 phones, but it doesn't seem to work on a 706. Or is it just stuck with grime?

Any suggestions as to how to remove the cover are very welcome.

Andy

russell_w_b · 24th Jun 2015, 7:53 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy1702

Is there a special way of getting the dial cover off a 706 ...

Yes. Insert a PO No:1 screwdriver (terminal, flat-blade) UNDER the dial at the R/H side looking down at it, flat-blade horizontal, then twist the driver 90 degrees so the blade is vertical. This will push out the dial cover without damaging it.

If you look underneath the dial between it and the chevron or number plate (and obvious when the dial cover is removed) you'll see where the blade is inserted.

bobsterkent · 24th Jun 2015, 8:32 pm

We was taught to tap the edge of a dial with the handle of a number 1 screwdriver and it will pop out, years later I was given a sucker tool that did the job

Tom_I · 24th Jun 2015, 8:39 pm

Many years ago I remember seeing a GPO engineer doing exactly that - tapping the edge of the dial with the handle of a screwdriver until the centre cover popped out.

andy1702 · 24th Jun 2015, 9:16 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by russell_w_b

Insert a PO No:1 screwdriver (terminal, flat-blade) UNDER the dial at the R/H side looking down at it, flat-blade horizontal, then twist the driver 90 degrees so the blade is vertical.

Thanks for that. I thought there must be some kind of trick to it. I'd have been there all night with my roll of Sellotape! One twist of the screwdriver and it popped straight off.

Andy.

Oldcodger · 25th Jun 2015, 12:13 am

I always used a sucker. For those not willing to risk a screwdriver under the cover, modern halogen GU10 laps use a decent sucker, which I'd suspect would do the job.

Herald1360 · 25th Jun 2015, 12:19 am

Sounds like a valve grinding tool would be just the job.

https://www.cromwell.co.uk/SYK5036905V

andy1702 · 25th Jun 2015, 1:42 am

When I got the cover off I found the original card in the dial centre was quite a lot thicker than on later models. This thick card means the screwdriver isn't in danger of scratching the inside of the cover. I don't think a sucker would have worked on this particular phone as it was very tight. I even had trouble putting it back together.

Dave Moll · 25th Jun 2015, 8:51 pm

I find a lump of Blu Tak can usually provide sufficient traction to lift the cover - though probably not in this case by the sound of it. Probably best to clean off any oily residue immediately thereafter.

MrElectronicman · 25th Jun 2015, 11:10 pm

I still have the rubber sucker somewhere, but as it is now about 50 years old I don't think it would work anymore.

Tim · 26th Jun 2015, 4:05 pm

Sellotape.

andy1702 · 26th Jun 2015, 7:37 pm

I tried this with another 706 today and again I couldn't get the plastic cover off with the usual sellotape. It works with the dials as fitted to later phones, but the coloured dials are built that bit differently, with a springy bit of metal behind the cover, which means the screwdriver always seems to be necessary.

TonyDuell · 26th Jun 2015, 8:43 pm

Incidentally, I have found a suction-cup-ended 'dart' used with a toy gun from the pound shop is a reasonable tool for removing the dial 'label protector' or 'hub cap' on dials
which would yield to sellotape. It avoids having sticky residue on the cap.

IIRC I got 3 darts for my pound. I threw the gun away, but only after dismantling it and extracting a nice compression spring that I am sure will come in useful sometime.

24th Jun 2015, 7:41 pm	#1
andy1702 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 110	How do you get the dial centre cover off a 706 phone? Is there a special way of getting the dial cover off a 706 that I'm not aware of? I use the bit of tape across the dial trick on 746 phones, but it doesn't seem to work on a 706. Or is it just stuck with grime? Any suggestions as to how to remove the cover are very welcome. Andy

24th Jun 2015, 8:32 pm	#3
bobsterkent Hexode Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Medway towns, Kent, UK. Posts: 271	Re: How do you get the dial centre cover off a 706 phone? We was taught to tap the edge of a dial with the handle of a number 1 screwdriver and it will pop out, years later I was given a sucker tool that did the job __________________ "Oh yes I love television, all those wiggly lines"!

24th Jun 2015, 8:39 pm	#4
Tom_I Heptode Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: North Herts. UK. Posts: 549	Re: How do you get the dial centre cover off a 706 phone? Many years ago I remember seeing a GPO engineer doing exactly that - tapping the edge of the dial with the handle of a screwdriver until the centre cover popped out.

25th Jun 2015, 12:13 am	#6
Oldcodger Nonode Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: West Midlands, UK. Posts: 2,181	Re: How do you get the dial centre cover off a 706 phone? I always used a sucker. For those not willing to risk a screwdriver under the cover, modern halogen GU10 laps use a decent sucker, which I'd suspect would do the job.

25th Jun 2015, 12:19 am	#7
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,536	Re: How do you get the dial centre cover off a 706 phone? Sounds like a valve grinding tool would be just the job. https://www.cromwell.co.uk/SYK5036905V __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O

25th Jun 2015, 1:42 am	#8
andy1702 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 110	Re: How do you get the dial centre cover off a 706 phone? When I got the cover off I found the original card in the dial centre was quite a lot thicker than on later models. This thick card means the screwdriver isn't in danger of scratching the inside of the cover. I don't think a sucker would have worked on this particular phone as it was very tight. I even had trouble putting it back together.

25th Jun 2015, 8:51 pm	#9
Dave Moll Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK Posts: 6,130	Re: How do you get the dial centre cover off a 706 phone? I find a lump of Blu Tak can usually provide sufficient traction to lift the cover - though probably not in this case by the sound of it. Probably best to clean off any oily residue immediately thereafter. __________________ Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)

25th Jun 2015, 11:10 pm	#10
MrElectronicman Heptode Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Washington DC, USA Posts: 619	Re: How do you get the dial centre cover off a 706 phone? I still have the rubber sucker somewhere, but as it is now about 50 years old I don't think it would work anymore. __________________ David

26th Jun 2015, 4:05 pm	#11
Tim Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 3,310	Re: How do you get the dial centre cover off a 706 phone? Sellotape. __________________ "Nothing is as dangerous as being too modern;one is apt to grow old fashioned quite suddenly."

26th Jun 2015, 7:37 pm	#12
andy1702 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 110	Re: How do you get the dial centre cover off a 706 phone? I tried this with another 706 today and again I couldn't get the plastic cover off with the usual sellotape. It works with the dials as fitted to later phones, but the coloured dials are built that bit differently, with a springy bit of metal behind the cover, which means the screwdriver always seems to be necessary.

26th Jun 2015, 8:43 pm	#13
TonyDuell Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Biggin Hill, London, UK. Posts: 5,223	Re: How do you get the dial centre cover off a 706 phone? Incidentally, I have found a suction-cup-ended 'dart' used with a toy gun from the pound shop is a reasonable tool for removing the dial 'label protector' or 'hub cap' on dials which would yield to sellotape. It avoids having sticky residue on the cap. IIRC I got 3 darts for my pound. I threw the gun away, but only after dismantling it and extracting a nice compression spring that I am sure will come in useful sometime.