Drake 2-B Tuning Shaft Bent???
As I continue to evaluate the 2-B on the bench here I'm starting to see 2nd tier issues that were not immediately apparent. In this example, the lathed/machined tuning shaft is slightly bent! What could have caused that without causing other significant physical damage to the radio? It's like finding a bent shaft inside a three layer cake!
I noticed the tuning knob has some slight but noticeable up and down and side to side play when rapidly tuning from low to high on a band - some wobble, not concentric. Then I noticed the same wobble in the shaft itself.
This isn't purely cosmetic-get-used-to-it damage. I now suspect the shaft wobble and resulting plus/minus dial string tension, however small, might be the cause of several brief dial slippages when tuning across a band.
what are the chances of finding a parts unit with a tuning shaft to spare? And I'd rather take a beating than restring the dial.
Comments, advice?
Dan
WB4GRA
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Re: TR7 Filters and Knobs
I didn't put the metal VFO skirt in the bath. I cleaned it with isopropyl
alcohol and Q-tips. It came out fine; I was worried that the IPA would
take off the paint, but it didn't. The metal disks came out fine.
The VFO skirt had some sort of yellow schmutz on it.
My bath had a few drops of Dawn Ultra.
This ultrasonic cleaner isn't very strong. It's a Harbor Freight unit.
It will only time to 4 minutes, and it takes maybe 10 shots of that to
clean anything. I've been thinking of retiring it in favor of something
with good reviews on Amazon. There's still a little bit of dirt on the knobs.
I'll hit them with Q-tips and IPA.
- Jerry
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Re: R-4C wire with no end stop
Peter, here is an educated guess as I do not have an R-4C in front of me.
Is the "wire" stiff and springy? If yes, it might have been used to provide a ground path for the metal part of the switch shaft. This would prevent coupling between two wafers of the switch that could lead to "filter blow-by." It is possible the "wire" was never put into the correct position during production.
Maybe someone else knows the real reason for the "wire."
Bob K9JU
On Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 09:18:52 AM EDT, Peter Ravn via groups.io <fasan5@...> wrote:
On the back of the print on the MODE/FILTER switch in my R-4C there is a 3 cm wire with no end stop. It is soldered onto the shield of the coax cable, and the solder looks original. Any idea what it is supposed to do? Serial number 18xxx.
Thanks.
Peter OZ8CTH
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Re: white line on 7 line knobs
FWIW I have used a water soluble acryllic paint stick, color: arctic white, to refurbish the white lines on the knobs for Drake TXany, Collins R390A, and various Icom gear.? Available at artist/craft supply stores.?
Clean knob, push paint into groove for white line, gently wipe with damp cloth parallel to the line to get a nice sharp line on the knob.
Above technique has worked great for me.
- Steve? W7SJT
"Always look for a positive solution then Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome" - Adaptation of the U.S. Marine Corps motto
"There are no rules here!...We're trying to accomplish something!!"
- Thomas Edison
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal.? It is the courage to continue that counts." -?Winston Churchill
On Sunday, May 7, 2023 at 07:05:20 AM MDT, Karl du Roi, DK7AL <dk7al@...> wrote:
For such refurbish tasks I have simply taken some colour tins from Revell M5 or SM301 (white, not shiny) from the nearest hobby shop dealing with plastic models. The varnish can be applied into the recess of the knobs as described earlier in this subject. Best regards. Karl, DK7AL On 07.05.23 14:09, Steve Wedge, W1ES/4 via groups.io wrote: > Another thing to consider is that if you clean the knobs in an ultrasonic cleaner, the paint will be gone when you¡¯re done. > > I¡¯ve been using the putty stick to bring the lines and dots back but am considering going back to paint. Paint is the only way for 2 Line knobs. > > Steve Wedge, W1ES/4 > > Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana. > > Sent from Proton Mail for iOS > > On Sat, May 6, 2023 at 22:52, Evan via groups.io <[k9sqg@...](mailto:On Sat, May 6, 2023 at 22:52, Evan via groups.io <<a href=)> wrote: > >> Jerry, >> >> Sounds like you are making good progress. >> >> As to the knobs, one of the antique radio vendors sells a white "putty stick" which one can rub onto/into the indicator lines on the knobs. After rubbing in, the excess can be wiped off with a cloth. For the perfectionist, white paint can be used to repaint the pointers. Sometimes just soaking in soap water and light brushing can restore the brightness but rubbing too hard can remove the paint. >> >> 73, >> >> Evan, K9SQG >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: jerry-KF6VB < jerry@...> >> To: [email protected]>> Sent: Sat, May 6, 2023 10:06 pm >> Subject: [DRAKE-RADIO] TR7 Filters and Knobs >> >> So today a care package arrived from Noble Radio. A 450Hz CW filter. A >> true work of art. I did not delay in installing it. Had to do some >> cleanup on the filter card; somebody had done a messy remove of its >> original filters - all except the standard 2.3kHz SSB filter. Possibly >> my Ebay seller. After all, why sell an INOP rig full of expensive >> separately-saleable filters? >> >> It works great. Single-signal CW reception. >> >> While I was in there, I did the mod that lets the carrier control work >> with SSB. It's just one wire tacked to two >> terminals on the mode switch. >> >> I also fixed the loose coax terminal I mentioned earlier. It turned >> out that the "clip" part had come undone. Now >> it's nice & tight. >> >> Then I did something purely cosmetic: pulled off all the knobs and >> treated them to an ultrasonic cleaner bath. >> Except for the Mode switch and the Aux Program switch. Those don't seem >> to have setscrews. How do they come off? >> >> The white paint inside some of the pointer knobs - white paint inside >> a groove - is a bit discolored and perished. >> I may want to redo it. >> >> - Jerry, KF6VB >> >> >
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Hi Jerry,
I've seen something similar to those. There's limited room where these lights are but LEDs with leads might just work.
While the picture doesn't reflect it, these LEDs are supposed to be white.
Thanks,
Barry - N4BUQ
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----- Original Message ----- From: "jerry" <jerry@...>
To: "DRAKE-RADIO" <[email protected]>
Cc: "n4buq" <n4buq@...>
Sent: Saturday, May 6, 2023 11:06:07 PM
Subject: Re: [DRAKE-RADIO] 2-B Lights On 2023-05-06 19:09, n4buq wrote:
Because the factory lighting for the 2-B's dial leaves a bit to be
desired - particularly in the center portions of the dial, I tried
something a little different and mounted a few SMD LEDs [...]
soldering work. Those 0805 chips are pretty small... *** There are SMD LEDs out there with pre-soldered leads. People use
them for dollhouses.
I used them to restore the backlight on an Alinco DR-1200T 2-meter
transceiver. The original backlights were grain-of-wheat bulbs,
and they were all burned out. I was able to put two or three of those
tiny LEDs in place of each burned out incandescent.
And yes, they have blue ones.
- Jerry
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Re: white line on 7 line knobs
For such refurbish tasks I have simply taken some colour tins from Revell M5 or SM301 (white, not shiny) from the nearest hobby shop dealing with plastic models. The varnish can be applied into the recess of the knobs as described earlier in this subject.
Best regards.
Karl, DK7AL
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Show quoted text
On 07.05.23 14:09, Steve Wedge, W1ES/4 via groups.io wrote: Another thing to consider is that if you clean the knobs in an ultrasonic cleaner, the paint will be gone when you¡¯re done.
I¡¯ve been using the putty stick to bring the lines and dots back but am considering going back to paint. Paint is the only way for 2 Line knobs.
Steve Wedge, W1ES/4
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent from Proton Mail for iOS
On Sat, May 6, 2023 at 22:52, Evan via groups.io <[k9sqg@...](mailto:On Sat, May 6, 2023 at 22:52, Evan via groups.io <<a href=)> wrote:
Jerry,
Sounds like you are making good progress.
As to the knobs, one of the antique radio vendors sells a white "putty stick" which one can rub onto/into the indicator lines on the knobs. After rubbing in, the excess can be wiped off with a cloth. For the perfectionist, white paint can be used to repaint the pointers. Sometimes just soaking in soap water and light brushing can restore the brightness but rubbing too hard can remove the paint.
73,
Evan, K9SQG
-----Original Message-----
From: jerry-KF6VB <jerry@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sat, May 6, 2023 10:06 pm
Subject: [DRAKE-RADIO] TR7 Filters and Knobs
So today a care package arrived from Noble Radio. A 450Hz CW filter. A
true work of art. I did not delay in installing it. Had to do some
cleanup on the filter card; somebody had done a messy remove of its
original filters - all except the standard 2.3kHz SSB filter. Possibly
my Ebay seller. After all, why sell an INOP rig full of expensive
separately-saleable filters?
It works great. Single-signal CW reception.
While I was in there, I did the mod that lets the carrier control work
with SSB. It's just one wire tacked to two
terminals on the mode switch.
I also fixed the loose coax terminal I mentioned earlier. It turned
out that the "clip" part had come undone. Now
it's nice & tight.
Then I did something purely cosmetic: pulled off all the knobs and
treated them to an ultrasonic cleaner bath.
Except for the Mode switch and the Aux Program switch. Those don't seem
to have setscrews. How do they come off?
The white paint inside some of the pointer knobs - white paint inside
a groove - is a bit discolored and perished.
I may want to redo it.
- Jerry, KF6VB
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Re: TR7 Filters and Knobs
Jerry, how did the ultrasonic cleaner treat the metal discs in the knob? ?I had a really grungy VFO knob and used Simple Green in the cleaner. The knobs came out clean nut the metal looked pretty horrid.?
I¡¯m thinking it was the Simple Green but haven¡¯t wanted to further experiment for risk of damaging other knobs with metal inserts.?
73,
Steve Wedge, W1ES/4
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent from Proton Mail for iOS
On Sat, May 6, 2023 at 22:06, jerry-KF6VB < jerry@...> wrote: So today a care package arrived from Noble Radio. A 450Hz CW filter. A
true work of art. I did not delay in installing it. Had to do some
cleanup on the filter card; somebody had done a messy remove of its
original filters - all except the standard 2.3kHz SSB filter. Possibly
my Ebay seller. After all, why sell an INOP rig full of expensive
separately-saleable filters?
It works great. Single-signal CW reception.
While I was in there, I did the mod that lets the carrier control work
with SSB. It's just one wire tacked to two
terminals on the mode switch.
I also fixed the loose coax terminal I mentioned earlier. It turned
out that the "clip" part had come undone. Now
it's nice & tight.
Then I did something purely cosmetic: pulled off all the knobs and
treated them to an ultrasonic cleaner bath.
Except for the Mode switch and the Aux Program switch. Those don't seem
to have setscrews. How do they come off?
The white paint inside some of the pointer knobs - white paint inside
a groove - is a bit discolored and perished.
I may want to redo it.
- Jerry, KF6VB
|
Re: white line on 7 line knobs
Another thing to consider is that if you clean the knobs in an ultrasonic cleaner, the paint will be gone when you¡¯re done.?
I¡¯ve been using the putty stick to bring the lines and dots back but am considering going back to paint. Paint is the only way for 2 Line knobs.?
Steve Wedge, W1ES/4
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent from Proton Mail for iOS
On Sat, May 6, 2023 at 22:52, Evan via groups.io < k9sqg@...> wrote:
Jerry,
Sounds like you are making good progress.
As to the knobs, one of the antique radio vendors sells a white "putty stick" which one can rub onto/into the indicator lines on the knobs. ?After rubbing in, the excess can be wiped off with a cloth. ?For the perfectionist, white paint can be used to repaint the pointers. ?Sometimes just soaking in soap water and light brushing can restore the brightness but rubbing too hard can remove the paint.
73,
Evan, K9SQG
-----Original Message-----
From: jerry-KF6VB <jerry@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sat, May 6, 2023 10:06 pm
Subject: [DRAKE-RADIO] TR7 Filters and Knobs
So today a care package arrived from Noble Radio.? A 450Hz CW filter.? A
true work of art.? I did not delay in installing it.? Had to do some
cleanup on the filter card; somebody had done a messy remove of its
original filters - all except the standard 2.3kHz SSB filter.? Possibly
my Ebay seller.? After all, why sell an INOP rig full of expensive
separately-saleable filters?
? It works great.? Single-signal CW reception.
? While I was in there, I did the mod that lets the carrier control work
with SSB.? It's just one wire tacked to two
terminals on the mode switch.
? I also fixed the loose coax terminal I mentioned earlier.? It turned
out that the "clip" part had come undone.? Now
it's nice & tight.
? Then I did something purely cosmetic:? pulled off all the knobs and
treated them to an ultrasonic cleaner bath.
Except for the Mode switch and the Aux Program switch.? Those don't seem
to have setscrews.? How do they come off?
? ? The white paint inside some of the pointer knobs - white paint inside
a groove - is a bit discolored and perished.
I may want to redo it.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? - Jerry, KF6VB
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Re: TR7 Filters and Knobs
Knobs without set screws are usually push-on.? Held by a flat spring. Can be pulled off. Sometimes takes a strong pull or careful prying.? Be careful the spring does not pull out and get lost.? Some knobs have screws in the center but those usually have covers. I don't think Drake ever used those but I have seen push-on knobs on Drakes.
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-------- Original message -------- From: Jim Shorney <jimNU0C@...> Date: 5/6/23 8:46 PM (GMT-08:00) Subject: Re: [DRAKE-RADIO] TR7 Filters and Knobs
They do have set screws. At least all of mine do. 73 -Jim NU0C On Sat, 06 May 2023 19:06:51 -0700 "jerry-KF6VB" <jerry@...> wrote: > Except for the Mode switch and the Aux Program switch.? Those don't seem > to have setscrews.? How do they come off?
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Fellow Drake Enthusiasts,
I have the following equipment for sale, Hamvention pick up only due to health issues. ?My QTH is about 4 miles west of Greene County Fairgrounds, new home of the Hamvention.
Drake MN-2000 antenna tuner. ?Beautiful condition inside and out, 9+. ?Have a copy of the manual, possibly an original. ?$300.
Heath SB-200 linear amplifier. ?Beautiful condition, 9+. ?Has been recently upgraded with $125 of mods including Harbach HV power supply module, and Harbach soft-key for the PTT line so it can be used with modern rigs. ?Unfortunately no manual but they are available online for free. ?$700.
XYL says payment has to be in cash or postal money order. ?Reason for selling, nursing home and medical costs.
If interested please email off list. ?Hope attendees have a great time at Hamvention!
73,
Evan, K9SQG
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Re: white line on 7 line knobs
They are called "paintsticks". I use one of these, works well.
Cheers,
Peter - VK2AN
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On 2023-05-06 19:09, n4buq wrote: Because the factory lighting for the 2-B's dial leaves a bit to be
desired - particularly in the center portions of the dial, I tried
something a little different and mounted a few SMD LEDs [...] soldering work. Those 0805 chips are pretty small... *** There are SMD LEDs out there with pre-soldered leads. People use them for dollhouses. I used them to restore the backlight on an Alinco DR-1200T 2-meter transceiver. The original backlights were grain-of-wheat bulbs, and they were all burned out. I was able to put two or three of those tiny LEDs in place of each burned out incandescent. And yes, they have blue ones. - Jerry
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Re: TR7 Filters and Knobs
They do have set screws. At least all of mine do. 73 -Jim NU0C On Sat, 06 May 2023 19:06:51 -0700 "jerry-KF6VB" <jerry@...> wrote: Except for the Mode switch and the Aux Program switch. Those don't seem
to have setscrews. How do they come off?
|
white line on 7 line knobs
Jerry,
Sounds like you are making good progress.
As to the knobs, one of the antique radio vendors sells a white "putty stick" which one can rub onto/into the indicator lines on the knobs. ?After rubbing in, the excess can be wiped off with a cloth. ?For the perfectionist, white paint can be used to repaint the pointers. ?Sometimes just soaking in soap water and light brushing can restore the brightness but rubbing too hard can remove the paint.
73,
Evan, K9SQG
-----Original Message-----
From: jerry-KF6VB <jerry@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sat, May 6, 2023 10:06 pm
Subject: [DRAKE-RADIO] TR7 Filters and Knobs
So today a care package arrived from Noble Radio.? A 450Hz CW filter.? A
true work of art.? I did not delay in installing it.? Had to do some
cleanup on the filter card; somebody had done a messy remove of its
original filters - all except the standard 2.3kHz SSB filter.? Possibly
my Ebay seller.? After all, why sell an INOP rig full of expensive
separately-saleable filters?
? It works great.? Single-signal CW reception.
? While I was in there, I did the mod that lets the carrier control work
with SSB.? It's just one wire tacked to two
terminals on the mode switch.
? I also fixed the loose coax terminal I mentioned earlier.? It turned
out that the "clip" part had come undone.? Now
it's nice & tight.
? Then I did something purely cosmetic:? pulled off all the knobs and
treated them to an ultrasonic cleaner bath.
Except for the Mode switch and the Aux Program switch.? Those don't seem
to have setscrews.? How do they come off?
? ? The white paint inside some of the pointer knobs - white paint inside
a groove - is a bit discolored and perished.
I may want to redo it.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? - Jerry, KF6VB
|
Oh, and, the blue tape is just to hold the PCB to the piece of wood. I may cyanoacrylate them together but, for now, it's just a dirty prototype project.
Thanks,
Barry - N4BUQ
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----- Original Message ----- From: "n4buq" <n4buq@...>
To: "DRAKE-RADIO" <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, May 6, 2023 9:09:11 PM
Subject: [DRAKE-RADIO] 2-B Lights Because the factory lighting for the 2-B's dial leaves a bit to be desired -
particularly in the center portions of the dial, I tried something a little
different and mounted a few SMD LEDs and dropping resistors on a small piece of
prototyping circuit board. The LEDs point straight up from underneath the dial
window.
The 2-B-1 picture shows them illuminated (without the rig powered off so as not
to include the side lighting). The 2-B-2 picture shows the crude board (with
masking tape to hold it to ad small piece of wood that elevates the board just
above the top of the slide switch bodies). If you zoom in on the board, please
excuse the very sloppy soldering work. Those 0805 chips are pretty small...
As you can see, this creates just a bit of a shadow of the needle against the
white backing plate so I'm not sure how much I like this but at least it is
more uniformly lighted across the dial. I may pursue a formal PCB with several
more LEDs that might help eliminate some of that shadowing.
Anyway, just thought I'd share.
Thanks,
Barry - N4BUQ
|
Because the factory lighting for the 2-B's dial leaves a bit to be desired - particularly in the center portions of the dial, I tried something a little different and mounted a few SMD LEDs and dropping resistors on a small piece of prototyping circuit board. The LEDs point straight up from underneath the dial window.
The 2-B-1 picture shows them illuminated (without the rig powered off so as not to include the side lighting). The 2-B-2 picture shows the crude board (with masking tape to hold it to ad small piece of wood that elevates the board just above the top of the slide switch bodies). If you zoom in on the board, please excuse the very sloppy soldering work. Those 0805 chips are pretty small...
As you can see, this creates just a bit of a shadow of the needle against the white backing plate so I'm not sure how much I like this but at least it is more uniformly lighted across the dial. I may pursue a formal PCB with several more LEDs that might help eliminate some of that shadowing.
Anyway, just thought I'd share.
Thanks,
Barry - N4BUQ
|
So today a care package arrived from Noble Radio. A 450Hz CW filter. A true work of art. I did not delay in installing it. Had to do some cleanup on the filter card; somebody had done a messy remove of its original filters - all except the standard 2.3kHz SSB filter. Possibly my Ebay seller. After all, why sell an INOP rig full of expensive separately-saleable filters?
It works great. Single-signal CW reception.
While I was in there, I did the mod that lets the carrier control work with SSB. It's just one wire tacked to two
terminals on the mode switch.
I also fixed the loose coax terminal I mentioned earlier. It turned out that the "clip" part had come undone. Now
it's nice & tight.
Then I did something purely cosmetic: pulled off all the knobs and treated them to an ultrasonic cleaner bath.
Except for the Mode switch and the Aux Program switch. Those don't seem to have setscrews. How do they come off?
The white paint inside some of the pointer knobs - white paint inside a groove - is a bit discolored and perished.
I may want to redo it.
- Jerry, KF6VB
|
4 Line. The 2¡¯s ?are not the same.?
Steve Wedge, W1ES/4
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent from Proton Mail for iOS
On Sat, May 6, 2023 at 19:46, Richard Knoppow < 1oldlens1@...> wrote: A little low S-9 on a Drake should be 30 uV.
-------- Original message -------- From: Clark WU4B <clark.macaulay@...> Date: 5/6/23 2:46 PM (GMT-08:00) Subject: [DRAKE-RADIO] 2-A S-Meter Reading
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A little low S-9 on a Drake should be 30 uV.
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-------- Original message -------- From: Clark WU4B <clark.macaulay@...> Date: 5/6/23 2:46 PM (GMT-08:00) Subject: [DRAKE-RADIO] 2-A S-Meter Reading
I have a very clean (for a 60 year old radio) 2-A that I'm checking out for selling. It has been my bench receiver for years and seems to work fine.? All voltages check out fine.? for a 50 uV signal on 40m, what should the S reading be? I'm getting S7.? All caps are the original and I've peaked the 455 KC transformer.??
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I am fairly sure that during the 2 series, S9 is 50 uV. The others here will correct me if I¡¯m wrong. I can¡¯t remember if the 2-A had any paper capacitors (the 2-B has film capacitors that look similar to paper ones). If the can cap isn¡¯t leaky, keep it. I haven¡¯t seen a 2-B with a bad one, for some reason.?
73,
Steve Wedge, W1ES/4
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent from Proton Mail for iOS
On Sat, May 6, 2023 at 12:54, Clark WU4B < clark.macaulay@...> wrote: I have a very clean (for a 60 year old radio) 2-A that I'm checking out for selling. It has been my bench receiver for years and seems to work fine.? All voltages check out fine.? for a 50 uV signal on 40m, what should the S reading be? I'm getting S7.? All caps are the original and I've peaked the 455 KC transformer.??
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Karl du Roi, DK7AL
Peter E
Jim Shorney
