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I have never found ESD safe alignment tools to be a necessity with most ham gear. In fact you probably want to be careful with them around tube gear as they are slightly conductive.

73

-Jim
NU0C

On Thu, 06 Apr 2023 08:26:42 -0700
"Gregory Beat via groups.io" <w9gb@...> wrote:

Anti-Static (ESD) versions preferred for Electronics Workbench.

Attached. Front and back of the W7AVK clone. Note that the large hole is precisely placed to allow adjustment access to one of the boards underneath the Jumper Board when installed in the radio.

Trivia: the Jumper Board was standard equipment in the original TR7, with the DR7 positioned as an optional accessory. It turned out that everyone wanted the DR7 and I have never heard of a TR7 without one begging spotted outside of Drake literature.

73

-Jim
NU0C

On Thu, 06 Apr 2023 12:32:11 -0700
"JP Nery via groups.io" <jpnery@...> wrote:

If anyone here has either of these two boards, could you please take a photo of the backs sides and send them to me?

TU & 73

John WA1ESO@...

My Elmer had a 717 when I was a teenage novice back in the mid 70s. It was the coolest thing I had ever seen at the time. So when I found a nice one at an auction many years later I had to have it. It is connected to my TR7 although I generally use computer generated CW for DXpedition chasing. It still works flawlessly with original tubes and caps.

It's not quite a TO knock-off, from what I have seen it seems to legitimately be a better design. It does seem to be a bit more picky about paddle timing than your average Curtis keyer, but not objection-ally so. Keep your paddle contacts clean.

You might find the below note from VE3CUI to be useful:
___

Hi Guys,

To-day I just discovered something that is specific to the old EICO Model 717 electronic keyer---but it just *could* be applicable to any other gear in your possession that utilizes a field coil / reed relay to accomplish rapid circuit switching...

Anyway, FWIW---delete if uninterested...

I found that the keying characteristics of the internal audio oscillator in this vintage tube-type keyer followed that of the mechanical keying mechanism very well: however, the external device being keyed displayed a noticeably truncated first dit---almost a contact bounce effect. The circuitry of the 717 in this application utilizes an ultra-miniature reed relay to key one's rig---the relay is located right in the middle of a field coil that activates it.

I found with my keyer that the location of the relay inside the coil was haphazard, at best---plenty of room to "float"---and so I experimented with moving the relay through the length of the coil, to see what effect, if any, this might have on the make of the first dit. I found that (obviously) moving the relay too far OUT of the field coil stopped the keying process entirely. However, moving it too far INTO the coil merely exaggerated the "bounce" effect...

I finally located the relay so that about 1/4" of it extended OUTSIDE of the field coil itself---and I'm very happy to proclaim that the keying is perfect now.

Previous to this "discovery", I had swapped & subbed tube after tube n the circuit, with various degrees of success. In hindsight, I can see now that any "good" or "bad" effects were most likely induced by the relay/coil moving fore/aft of one another during the process of my removing the keyer from its enclosure!

To guard against any future such variables, I applied two blobs of silicone sealant to the coil, bonding each end to the chassis...hopefully this will forever preserve "...the sweet spot" of the location betwixt these two components...

~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ
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___

73

-Jim
NU0C

On Thu, 6 Apr 2023 08:16:25 -0700
"Sean (KK6BEB)" <seanlynch@...> wrote:

Slightly off topic, but I just received a N.O.S. 717. Going to replace the
caps for good measure and give it a try. I’ve heard tubes for this are
impossible to find. If anyone here happens to use one and if you’ve had any
luck with tubes / tubes subscriptions I’d appreciate hearing about it.

Since this is a bit off topic maybe just contact me directly. I’m good on
QRZ.

Thanks!
Sean
KK6BEB

This is such a fantastic story. I’m new to the group, so if this video already made the rounds my apologies.--

WTB 2-NT transmitter in exc condition.? Thanks for any info...
--Ed, N3CW--

Victor,
Thank you.
Chuck

Steve,

Thank you.

Chuck

If anyone here has either of these two boards, could you please take a photo of the backs sides and send them to me?

TU & 73

John WA1ESO@...

? ? ??

Measured voltage at CR1 while switching:

USB 13.47
LSB 13.41

will try the rest of your suggestion when I have a little more time.?

thanks!

The one tool I have never come across in the various kits and job lots of alignment tools is the one needed on the R4 and others to adjust the PBT coils. They are a springy sort of spiral wound metal. I started out with a pair of straight hemostats clamped on to the flattened end of the adjusters, but that was awkward and not very precise (although the springy consistency of the adjusters makes “precision” difficult.?

one day i was looking sadly at a broken off tip of a Spectrol alignment tool, and realized that if I carefully cut a slot in the tip, of the right width to snugly fit over the flattened end of the R4 adjusters, I might have an easier time. Indeed, that is now my Go To solution. What do other folks do?

In all my restoration observations, tubes are very resilient, especially when used within specs in places where they cannot be abused due to mistuning etc. In looking up the 717 it has two common tubes 12AU7, 6CB6, and one less common, the ECH81. The ECH81 is equivalent to the 6AJ8 or Russian 611P. All of these tubes are available if needed but I would be surprised if they were in your keyer.
--
Doug, WA3DSP

On Thu, Apr 6, 2023 at 12:16 PM, Sean (KK6BEB) wrote:

Slightly off topic, but I just received a N.O.S. 717. Going to replace the caps for good measure and give it a try. I’ve heard tubes for this are impossible to find. If anyone here happens to use one and if you’ve had any luck with tubes / tubes subscriptions I’d appreciate hearing about it. ?

?

Since this is a bit off topic maybe just contact me directly. I’m good on QRZ.

?

Thanks!

Sean

KK6BEB

?

--

Not necessarily that off topic since you want to use it with Drake with your T-4XC.? A quick look at the tubes for your Eico keyer shows 12AU7 (x3) are very common.? ?A single 6CB6 and two 6AJ8 tubes.? All of these are obtainable.? I'm sure I have them all here.? If you find yourself in a situation, let me know.? I will try to help.? Yours may be all fine?? Enjoy.?

Peter?
VE9KX

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Jim and the group,

Sure, appreciate the tip about the schematic being in the service manual.

I have a retired EE friend designing a digital jumper board.

Now selling TR7 extender 13 board kits on eBay

Direct sales through

WA1ESO@...?with Paypal 10% off the eBay price.

Call if you like between 7A and 7P.? 401-624-4576

1968 EICO Product Catalog (PDF, 42 pages)

GC Electronics (Rockford, IL) has been a long-time supplier of Alignment Tools & Kits
for the Radio & TV Shops, Electronics & Audio Bench Technicians, and Radio Amateurs.


There are a number of other manufacturers (many Eastern Asia) that have appeared since 1990.
I recommend that you SHOP CAREFULLY. ?eBay, Alibaba, and other discount venues are often higher in price that manufacturer or distributor !!
Anti-Static (ESD) versions preferred for Electronics Workbench.

Jonard Tools (Elmsford, NY)