[kiwi_steve]

Can you replace the drive belt (string) with an o-ring?  There has been tips lately that one can use a garter spring in place of a belt or o-ring.  Garter springs should last virtually forever.

I don't think so - I can't easily get a closed-loop in place without serious disassembly.  I have some wide flat hair-bands that I'm going to try super-gluing to a suitable length... failing that I'll await the day I need to replace the current setup...

 Steve,
    I looked up the dial belt. You need a JFD # 23. I expect that you should be able to purchase one "down under " for a few dollars. You will also need to look at the condition of the rubber insulating washers used to mount the tuning capacitor. Over time they deteriorate and shrink causing the length of the belt reqiured to change .( become smaller) . If you can't find a belt locally send me a pm with your address and I will put the one I have in the mail for you.
          Good Luck,
                 Henry
 

Thanks Henry, I'm having trouble getting anything to be reliable in place of a belt.  Knots cause it to jam up, multiple loops of dial cord cause it to occasionally throw one turn off a pulley- in turn causing a jam, anything elastic causes it to have a jerky reaction to tuning... I'll flick you a PM shortly.

And yes, I've replaced the grommets under the tuning condenser - I generally do this as a matter of course since most of them are well and truly deteriorated - the ones in this were rock hard.

Cheers

Steve