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Re: TR-5 BPF AMP Board Oddness

 

That is the cover I took off with the hole itn it near the back of the chassis. Sorry I will take the bottom cover off again and try to do better hi hi

Jim Ve1RB

On Mon, Dec 30, 2024 at 6:14?PM Lyndon VE7TFX via <lyndon=[email protected]> wrote:
Jim, you're looking at the wrong board.? The picture you sent is
of the pre-mixer board.? The board you want is accessed through the
bottom of the chassis.? Open the radio on its back, with the rear
panel facing you.? The BPF Amp board is on the left side, above the
compartment where the output filters live.

See the picture on page 5-9 of the manual.

--lyndon






Re: R-4A BFO Gremlins

 

Found your file and downloaded it to my Drake file.

On 12/30/2024 3:24 PM, Gary WB6OGD via groups.io wrote:
[Edited Message Follows]
Richard,
--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
SKCC 19998


Re: R-4A BFO Gremlins

 

No, I never got a board. I am familiar with Rob's upgrades for the R4C but didn't know about the B. The B is really a very good receiver and doesn't seem to need much help but I am always interested in improvements.

On 12/30/2024 3:19 PM, Gary WB6OGD via groups.io wrote:
Richard,
Look in the Files section for my file:
"Product Detector board instructions.doc"
(I should have put a better title on it!)
This was for my version of Rob's board and how I installed it in my R-4B.? I think its a little easier
than Rob's method, I left all Drake parts in place and just cut one small Drake trace.
My pcb is slightly smaller than Rob's too, so it fit in really nicely. I sent out my extra boards, maybe
you got one?
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
SKCC 19998


Re: T4XC failure?

 

You are probably right but I was puzzled.
Both Lionel and ARH keys are good keys, easy to clean. J-38 keys were made by several manufacturers but these two, and Radio Specialties, which is evidently the same as ARH, are the most common.

On 12/30/2024 3:18 PM, Steve Wedge, W1ES/4 via groups.io wrote:
Low resistance when the contacts are open, is what I¡¯m assuming what is being described.
I have a T-4 that went stuck in transmit but I lucked out ¡ª it wasn¡¯t putting out full power. ?I¡¯m going to check my J-38 this evening. ?It¡¯s conceivable for this to have picked up some schmutz over 80 years¡­
--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
SKCC 19998


Re: R-4A BFO Gremlins

 
Edited

Richard,
Look in the Files section for my file:
?
"Product Detector board instructions.doc"
(I should have put a better title on it!)
?
This was for my version of Rob's board and how I installed it in my R-4B.? I think its a little easier
than Rob's method, I left all Drake parts in place and just cut one small Drake trace.
My pcb is slightly smaller than Rob's too, so it fit in really nicely.? I sent out my extra boards, maybe
you got one?
?
NOTE: there is another file "MouserParts.xls"? that has the parts list for my board.
I am not sure why these files are not in their own folder..?
?
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
?


Re: T4XC failure?

 

Low resistance when the contacts are open, is what I¡¯m assuming what is being described.

I have a T-4 that went stuck in transmit but I lucked out ¡ª it wasn¡¯t putting out full power. ?I¡¯m going to check my J-38 this evening. ?It¡¯s conceivable for this to have picked up some schmutz over 80 years¡­



On Mon, Dec 30, 2024 at 5:49 PM, Richard Knoppow via groups.io <1oldlens1@...> wrote:
I don't understand this. Low resistance, ideally NO resistance, of
the key contacts is their normal condition. What am I missing here?

On 12/30/2024 12:19 PM, Jay W6CJ via groups.io wrote:
> Gary & Group,

>
> A straight key with intermittently low-R contacts was the cause of this
> meltdown.
> I discovered this when I plugged the key into another transmitter - so
> check those contacts.
>
> 73
> Jay


--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
SKCC 19998







Re: T4XC failure?

 

Thank you,that would certainly cause problems. I discovered that the key contact resistance could affect the frequency of my Bud code practice oscillator. I began to get chirp from a bug and found that the resistance varied between dots and dashes. A good cleaning fixed this. If it can affect a simple code practice oscillator it might also affect a transmitter keying circuit.
I am a collector of telegraph keys in a small way (there are people with hundreds of them). I try to keep them in good condition. Most straight keys are pretty simple but resistance can get high if the various joints through which the current must flow become a little corroded. I mean to include bugs here since they sometimes have more complex current paths. one can check this with any VOM.

On 12/30/2024 2:53 PM, n4buq wrote:
I think he meant that the key was closed, or at least at a very low resistance, when it was supposed to be fully open.
Barry - N4BUQ

I don't understand this. Low resistance, ideally NO resistance, of
the key contacts is their normal condition. What am I missing here?
--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
SKCC 19998


Re: T4XC failure?

 

I think he meant that the key was closed, or at least at a very low resistance, when it was supposed to be fully open.

Barry - N4BUQ

I don't understand this. Low resistance, ideally NO resistance, of
the key contacts is their normal condition. What am I missing here?

On 12/30/2024 12:19 PM, Jay W6CJ via groups.io wrote:
Gary & Group,

A straight key with intermittently low-R contacts was the cause of this
meltdown.
I discovered this when I plugged the key into another transmitter - so
check those contacts.

73
Jay

--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
SKCC 19998




Re: T4XC failure?

 

I don't understand this. Low resistance, ideally NO resistance, of the key contacts is their normal condition. What am I missing here?

On 12/30/2024 12:19 PM, Jay W6CJ via groups.io wrote:
Gary & Group,
A straight key with intermittently low-R contacts was the cause of this meltdown.
I discovered this when I plugged the key into another transmitter - so check those contacts.
73
Jay
--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
SKCC 19998


Re: R-4A BFO Gremlins

 

Where can I find details of Sherwood's product detector fix for the 4B? I have one, which I need to work on for other reasons. If its not an extensive mod, and it really makes a difference, I would like to do it.

On 12/30/2024 1:11 PM, Gary WB6OGD via groups.io wrote:

without the cap is from 1966.
BTW, the real fix for the 11 tube R-4A and the R-4B is Rob Sherwood's product detector mod.
This makes a real difference, mostly in the Slow AVC.? Highly recommended, my R-4B has never
sounded better.
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
SKCC 19998


Re: Want: List of Drake Repairers

 

Check out the last page of the following document on WB4HFN's web site.??
?
?
73's,
Mark, WB0IQK


Re: TR-5 BPF AMP Board Oddness

Lyndon VE7TFX
 

Jim, you're looking at the wrong board. The picture you sent is
of the pre-mixer board. The board you want is accessed through the
bottom of the chassis. Open the radio on its back, with the rear
panel facing you. The BPF Amp board is on the left side, above the
compartment where the output filters live.

See the picture on page 5-9 of the manual.

--lyndon


Re: TR-5 BPF AMP Board Oddness

 

Lyndon my TR5 is serial 1159 and picture added.?

73, Jim VE1RB


On Mon, Dec 30, 2024 at 4:20?PM Lyndon VE7TFX via <lyndon=[email protected]> wrote:
Lyndon VE7TFX writes:

> Anybody know what's going on here?? I have another TR-5 (s/n 1024)
> that I got from Steve; I haven't opened it up yet to see if it's
> the same.

I popped the other one open, and it has the expected board (see
attached).? So it would appear that something changed between #1024
and #1051.? But in my rather limited searching I can't find any
documentation related to this.? If any of you have a TR-5 in the
s/n range 1025-1050 and are inclined towards doing a bit of detective
work, I'd appreciate it if you could pop off the bottom panel and
let me know which version of the board you have.

--lyndon






Re: R-4A BFO Gremlins

 

Yeah, I think the cap is the correct fix.? But Steve, you did fix it, can't argue with success.
?
Your receivers must have worked in the past, without cap nor resistor!? Aging must explain it.
This year it might take a 1K, next year a 2K?
?
If you are lowering the supply voltage, you are probably also lowering the output amplitude too.
Might not be any problem but might lead to signal degradation?
?
Interesting, you both seem to have 1967 radios, the "bad" schematic without the cap is from 1966.
?
BTW, the real fix for the 11 tube R-4A and the R-4B is Rob Sherwood's product detector mod.
This makes a real difference, mostly in the Slow AVC.? Highly recommended, my R-4B has never
sounded better.
?
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
?


Re: TR-5 BPF AMP Board Oddness

Lyndon VE7TFX
 

Lyndon VE7TFX writes:

Anybody know what's going on here? I have another TR-5 (s/n 1024)
that I got from Steve; I haven't opened it up yet to see if it's
the same.
I popped the other one open, and it has the expected board (see
attached). So it would appear that something changed between #1024
and #1051. But in my rather limited searching I can't find any
documentation related to this. If any of you have a TR-5 in the
s/n range 1025-1050 and are inclined towards doing a bit of detective
work, I'd appreciate it if you could pop off the bottom panel and
let me know which version of the board you have.

--lyndon


Re: T4XC failure?

 

Gary & Group,
RGR - the solder blob could have fallen from where the parasitic chokes connect to the top of the larger choke.
Looks like I'll be buying parasitic chokes, Sylvania (?) finals and maybe a driver.

A straight key with intermittently low-R contacts was the cause of this meltdown.??
I discovered this when I plugged the key into another transmitter - so check those contacts.

73
Jay

On Mon, Dec 30, 2024 at 9:46?AM Gary Follett via <xntrick1948=comcast.net_at_groups.io_lastradioman@...> wrote:

Are you saying that the parasitic choke got hot enough to melt solder? Safe bet the tube(s) are bad.

Gary

W0DVN

On Dec 29, 2024, at 2:13?PM, Jay W6CJ via <lastradioman=[email protected]> wrote:

Gary & Group,

More info-
Suspecting that I slagged my finals, I looked in the cage.
Saw a fresh solder blob near the base of the choke and a lead popped out from one of the parasitic choke resistors.

Looks like I'll need parasitic chokes (my hands can't make my own) and a pair of finals to substitute?

Suggestions welcome

73
Jay
W6CJ



On Fri, Dec 27, 2024 at 6:58?PM Jay W6CJ via?groups.io?<lastradioman=duck.com_at_groups.io_lastradioman@...> wrote:
Gary-
About 50mA, keying in CW mode.
In Tune mode, about 90-100mA.


On Fri, Dec 27, 2024 at 5:08?PM Gary Follett via?groups.io?<xntrick1948=comcast.net_at_groups.io_lastradioman@...> wrote:
Do you get idle plate current when you key the radio?

Gary

W0DVN

On Dec 27, 2024, at 7:00?PM, Jay W6CJ via?groups.io?<lastradioman=[email protected]> wrote:

Gary-
Using an AC4-R supply.
PA plate, plate, filament, dial light and bias voltages are getting to the T4XC.
Dead driver or finals?


On Fri, Dec 27, 2024 at 9:52?AM Gary Follett via?groups.io?<xntrick1948=comcast.net_at_groups.io_lastradioman@...> wrote:
There was a reason the power supply fuse popped. Check voltages there first.

Gary W0DVN

On Dec 27, 2024, at 10:54?AM, Jay W6CJ via?groups.io?<lastradioman=[email protected]> wrote:

Group,
I'd welcome any advice on where to start looking.??

The 5A fuse on the AC4 blew in my absence.
Replaced the fuse, and cannot get a peak greater than 0.1A when switching from SSB to tune, regardless of the gain setting on 80 and 40.??

D'oh.....? ??

73
Jay
W6CJ





L4B replacement potentiometer

 

Fellow Drake Enthusiasts,

Happy New Year to all!!!

A while back somebody had mentioned that Mouser part number?313-1601F-100K was a direct replacement for the L4B pot, right resistance, with a push pull switch. ?However, that particular pot does not have a shaft that is long enough for the L4B. ?Might I have the part number wrong?

I already have some pots that are direct replacements after I machine the mounting collar to the right length. ?However, if there are direct replacements it would save me some time.

Can you help?

73,

Evan, K9SQG


Re: TR-4C problem on 40 meters FIXED

 

On 2024-12-30 07:42, Dieter Horst wrote:

But isn't it wonderful to be able to bring all these Drakes back to
life...? Try that with a TS990 in 50 years! ;-)
*** Or a FTDX10. Mine has a problem with the CAT control over USB. Unfixable.
I did identify the chip responsible for that function, and replaced it. What a PITA.
Still doesn't work. And there's no WAY to get that big card out and still have it function
for troubleshooting. Yaesu doesn't fix them either. Just replace. $850 for the card, plus
a couple hours of labor.

- Jerry, KF6VB


Re: R-4A BFO Gremlins

 

Welp, I guess I need to put my receiver back on the bench and take a butcher's...

Steve Wedge, W1ES

Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.

Sent with secure email.

On Monday, December 30th, 2024 at 10:49 AM, Gary WB6OGD via groups.io <winbladgary@...> wrote:

> I have no idea what the added capacitor started the oscillator, but it has worked ever since.
?
Drake had an error for a short while (like one month) and fixed the schematic with a missing capacitor.
From message #65666
?

"C188 seems to be added to the same BFO circuit in the R-4B.
It decouples the exact node you propose to put a 1K to ground!!
Might be something Drake discovered in later models??
Also, schematic 919664054 seems to have a big error in the BFO, my downloaded from somewhere
copy has the correction marked in, that makes it like the R-4B schematic (the emitter connects to C163)."

Steve somehow found that a resistor (to lower the supply voltage?) fixed the problem, but the real fix is
probably a capacitor like you and Drake used.
73,
Gary
WB6OGD


Re: R-4A BFO Gremlins

 

I'll have to go and look.? I can remember that it was built in 1967 because it has the QC tag with it.? Since I reported it to Ron, the s/n is between 6136 and 6968.? Mint condition.? I bought it from a friend who was collecting as much Drake stuff as he could but never got around to putting the station together.? He has a good eye and my A Line is a great proof of that.

Steve Wedge, W1ES

Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.

Sent with secure email.

On Monday, December 30th, 2024 at 10:18 AM, Dave W7GZ via groups.io <w7gz@...> wrote:

Many tnx reply, Steve. Mine is an 11-tube with S/N 6717B. How does it compare in age to yours? It works fine with the pull-down resistor now, before I had to wait many minutes, sometimes forever for the BFO to start.
?
This one is an interesting specimen. It was sold to me for dirt cheap as a parts radio because it had been left in humidity and has quite a bit of rust on the top surface, but underneath it is pristine. After replacing 5 tubes that had vented through their pins, I discovered it was actually a working set. Not as nice looking as my R-4C, but it is completely usable and sensitive.
?
Thanks for posting your issue, it helped me realize it has been seen before. Dave