Denis Sharon wrote:
Hello,

Can anyone tell me just what means was used to tighten and loosen the
serrated/ribbed/knurled thin nuts used on panel-mount toggle switches?

I've been a gearhead since birth and have tinkered with radios almost as
long but have never encountered a tool to properly operate these decorative
nuts without potential damage. In one type of application, a hex nut is used
behind the panel with a decorative serrated nut on the front side. In this
case, it is a simple matter to merely tighten the behind-the-panel hex nut.
In other applications however - such as my TMC GPR-92 - the is no hex nut
and the switch is secured by only the serrated nut thereby requiring a means
to tighten it properly.

Replies directly to denis [dot] sharon [at] att.net would be appreciated.

Sadly, direct replies to posted questions goes against the spirit of
usenet.

The usual way to mount a switch is to align the knurled nut just slightly below
flush with the switch threads, and then tighten the hex nut that is on the back
side of the panel. This, of course, is not always possible. In those cases,
smart manufacturers used a decorative nut that can be engaged with a 12 point
socket.

-Chuck