Shoulda sent this to the group. D'oh!
I remember hearing about Tek washing scopes like that as well. Again, as long
as you take care with the transformers and get all the meters and other
delicate "stuff" out of the way, there's no substitute for a really good
cleaning - with mild surfactants and no or minimal mechanical hokey-pokey
underneath.
In the case of these rigs, they're in better-than average condition but
definitely grungy! Getting all the grease, tobacco residue, dust, etc out of
the contacts will only help. BTW, I am well-aware that the silver contacts are
just as conductive when black as when they're bright. Once the film of grunge
is gone, they should work better - oxide and all.
Steve Wedge, W1ES/4
"No trees were harmed in the creation of this email, but many electrons were
diverted."
If this message appears, then it came from my mobile computer!
----- Original Message -----
From: Steve Wedge
To: Chuck Grandgent
Sent: Sunday, November 01, 2009 9:10 PM
Subject: Re: [Drakelist] R-4A is in the oven!
Hi, Chuck,
Actually, I've done this sort of thing many times before: I've cleaned up and
refurbed an NC-240D, Swan 250, TR-4, SX-101 and others I can't remember.
The equipment actually runs cooler with all the sludge cleaned out of 'em.
The secrets to washing chassis are to remove meters, transformers (If you're
fully submerging or using the dishwasher) and anything else that can be damaged
by water - which are surprisingly few. Use a soft brush to work the crud off,
rinse well with tap water and then - very important - rinse with distilled
water before the thorough drying.
The main thing I've been trying to find out this time is what everyone is using
for grease/lube and contact cleaner.
After this R-4A has dried out, I will re-cap it and replace three tubes that
came up bad or weak on my TV-10 tube tester.
73,
Steve Wedge, W1ES/4
"No trees were harmed in the creation of this email, but many electrons were
diverted."
If this message appears, then it came from my mobile computer!
----- Original Message -----
From: Chuck Grandgent
To: Steve Wedge
Cc: drakelist@zerobeat.net
Sent: Sunday, November 01, 2009 6:29 PM
Subject: Re: [Drakelist] R-4A is in the oven!
Well good luck Steve, but I think somebody should do a citizen's arrest.
Chuck, K1OM
On Sun, Nov 1, 2009 at 6:18 PM, Steve Wedge <w1es1...@earthlink.net> wrote:
It was a perfect day to wash the R-4A: cloudy, intermittent drizzle, only
about 50F/10C outside.
I removed the PTO from the chassis but not the power xformer, so I was a
bit careful not to flood the underside too much. Took some Charlie's Soap
(available locally here in NC - it's a really good surfactant but not as harsh
as 409), some toothbrushes and utility brushes and swirled/scrubbed the top of
the chassis, then rinsed in the kitchen sink with the sink sprayer.
I then sprayed some more Charlie's Soap on the underside and very lightly
worked it in with a utility brush (those brushes with metal handles used for
spreading glue, etc), let it sit a few minutes and sprayed it - making sure to
avoid the area immediately under the power transformer again.
I then poured distilled water over the top, then the underside (except the
xformer again) and popped it into the oven, set at 170F on convection for about
10 minutes, then to "Warm" where it will stay for most of this evening.
I cleaned the PTO dial with Charlie's Soap and it looks like new. There's
brown grease on the single nylon gear - was this applied by the factory? I'm
thinking the PTO is really smooth, so maybe the only thing I'll do with it is
touch up the bearing lube without pulling the whole thing apart.
What's the consensus regarding the brown grease? Should I flush out the
ball bearings with alcohol and re-do with Teflon lube?
73,
Steve Wedge, W1ES/4
"No trees were harmed in the creation of this email, but many electrons
were diverted."
If this message appears, then it came from my mobile computer!
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