|
Putting a feeler out to see if there is any interest in purchasing a spare blower wheel for your L-4B amplifier.? ?I have a found a source for an almost exact replacement for the cooling fan.? ?This replacement fan is the same diameter, width, number of vanes and correct rotation.? The difference is in the shaft hub diameter.? The original Drake fan fits on the 0.25 diameter fan motor.? The replacement fan hub is smaller and has to be bored out, maintaining concentricity and perpendicularity for proper airflow. I have made ten of them and they have all been spoken for.? ?I am contemplating making more if there is interest.? ?If there is enough interest, I will make them available.? If you are interested, please contact me offline via email at NO8J@....73 de NO8J
|
I think there will be an interest beyond this group. These amps are getting to the age where the plastic blower wheel will break sooner than later. Mine got wobbly last year but I already have a solution. It would help to see some pictures of your wheel. 73 -Jim NU0C On Mon, 27 Nov 2023 07:35:43 -0800 "NO8J MARK H HUBER" <no8j@...> wrote: Putting a feeler out to see if there is any interest in purchasing a spare blower wheel for your L-4B amplifier.? ?I have a found a source for an almost exact replacement for the cooling fan.? ?This replacement fan is the same diameter, width, number of vanes and correct rotation.? The difference is in the shaft hub diameter.? The original Drake fan fits on the 0.25 diameter fan motor.? The replacement fan hub is smaller and has to be bored out, maintaining concentricity and perpendicularity for proper airflow.
I have made ten of them and they have all been spoken for.? ?I am contemplating making more if there is interest.? ?If there is enough interest, I will make them available.? If you are interested, please contact me offline via email at NO8J@.... ( NO8J@... )
73 de NO8J
|
I picked up the ten blower wheels today and they look great.? ?All have been spoken for.? A special thanks to Mark, WB0IQK who knew a ham that was able to machine the hubs to fit the motor.
I've attached a picture of a machined wheel to this posting.? These are the exact form and fit of the Drake OEM wheels.? ?I did some research on this blower wheel and found that Torrington orignally supplied these to GE for refrigerators in the early-mid sixties.? ?Guess it is no conicidence that the motor is also made by GE!
Next month I will be making another batch of 10-20 of these replacement blower wheels.? The cost will be in the 35-40 dollar range, shipped.? At this cost, I am not making any money - rather doing this to keep these classic amplifiers running.??
I will be sending out emails to those that contacted me last month for one.
73 de NO8J
|
It looks great Mark, thanks for doing this.
73 Mark W0NCL
On Friday, December 8, 2023 at 09:34:54 PM CST, NO8J MARK H HUBER <no8j@...> wrote:
I picked up today the blower wheels after they were machined.? A big "Thank You" to Mark, WB0IQK who found a fellow ham that had a lathe and was able to machine them for me.? All ten have been spoken for.?
I have had enough interest that I will be ordering more and having them machined next month.? ?I anticipate ordering a batch of 10-20 more and the price will be in the 35-40 dollar range.? I am not making any money on this, rather doing this to keep these classic amplifiers running.? ?
I have attached a picture of the machined blower wheel, which is identical to the Drake OEM wheel.? ??I will be sending out emails in the next day or so to those that contacted me last month for one.??
73 de NO8J
|
Looks like the same ol Drake plastic wheel.
Is is machined plastic?
Jim W7RY
On 12/8/2023 9:34 PM, NO8J MARK H HUBER
wrote:
I picked up today the blower wheels after they were machined.? A
big "Thank You" to Mark, WB0IQK who found a fellow ham that had a
lathe and was able to machine them for me.? All ten have been
spoken for.?
I have had enough interest that I will be ordering more and having
them machined next month.? ?I anticipate ordering a batch of 10-20
more and the price will be in the 35-40 dollar range.? I am not
making any money on this, rather doing this to keep these classic
amplifiers running.? ?
I have attached a picture of the machined blower wheel, which is
identical to the Drake OEM wheel.? ??I will be sending out emails
in the next day or so to those that contacted me last month for
one.??
73 de NO8J
--
Thanks and 73, Jim W7RY
|
I'm interested in one of the blower wheels however I don't see your email address link working... Is it the same address as on your QRZ page...?
|
JIm,
It IS the same blower wheel made by Torrington for Drake.? The only difference being the metal hub in the middle had a different bore size, which I had machined.
Mark
|
Scott, On my QRZ page, the ARRL email address forwards to my personal email address, markhh@....? I have been having trouble with my email server.? I have you added to the list. Mark
|
The replacement appears to be another plastic type.? ? You would think that with all the various blowers out there, there is probably a replacement? dayton blower wheel that would fit...and they all use a 1/4" shaft.?
?
I gave up on the oem drake blower.? Retrofitted the EBM papst blower from the AL- 1500/1200/82 amplifier? into the L4B.? While at it, replaced the 4" x 4" coleman lantern chimneys with the tapered types from the ameritron? AL-82 .? ?End result is over double the airflow.??
?
Another way to knock down some heat is to add some bias....like 10 x 1N5408 diodes in series.? ?Then it idles at 100 ma on SSB....and 40ma on CW.? ?IMD at 1290watts pep out on? SSB...and 625 watts pep out on CW position is superb.?
|
I have my L4 SSB idle set to around 90ma...Has the original 3-400z tubes, serial number .0014.
|
Mark, I'm having a hard time connecting with you. Could I get on the list for one of these blower wheels?
Thanks, Phil WX9US
|
Looks like the metal blower wheel is no longer available. ?
Maybe a 3D printer project for those with the skills??? No idea how
one would go about printing around the metal bushing for the shaft
which one likely have to be turned on a lathe.? Just a thought.
73
Stan
KM4HQE
On 12/12/24 12:57, Phil WX9US via
groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Mark, I'm having a hard time connecting with you. Could I get
on the list for one of these blower wheels?
Thanks, Phil WX9US
|
Stan? U wud be surprised what a good 3D company can do. ? ?Shop around meet with them and show them what you need. ? ?I did and was amazed. ? ?It is a 2 part process each with a cost. ? And that varies by a lot. ??
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Dec 14, 2024, at 19:27, Stan Gammons via groups.io <buttercup11421@...> wrote:
?
Looks like the metal blower wheel is no longer available. ?
Maybe a 3D printer project for those with the skills??? No idea how
one would go about printing around the metal bushing for the shaft
which one likely have to be turned on a lathe.? Just a thought.
73
Stan
KM4HQE
On 12/12/24 12:57, Phil WX9US via
groups.io wrote:
Mark, I'm having a hard time connecting with you. Could I get
on the list for one of these blower wheels?
Thanks, Phil WX9US
|
Hi,
Having a 3D company make them is not what I was thinking.? I was
thinking along the lines of someone in the group ,with the skills,
to make a plastic blower wheel and offering the blower wheels for
sale and sharing the file(s) to make them.? I know. Wishful
thinking.
73
Stan
KM4HQE
On 12/14/24 18:38, NU2W via groups.io wrote:
> Stan U wud be surprised what a good 3D company can do. Shop
> around meet with them and show them what you need. I did and was
> amazed. It is a 2 part process each with a cost. And that
> varies by a lot. Good luck
>
>
>> On Dec 14, 2024, at 19:27, Stan Gammons via groups.io
>> <buttercup11421@...>
?
|
Someone within the last several months had a bunch of them made. My L4B was NOS, and probably does not have an hour of on time, but I purchased one anyway. Very well done.?
...Dave? ?KD2E
On 12/14/2024 7:59 PM EST Stan Gammons via groups.io <buttercup11421@...> wrote:
?
?
Hi,
Having a 3D company make them is not what I was thinking.? I was thinking along the lines of someone in the group ,with the skills, to make a plastic blower wheel and offering the blower wheels for sale and sharing the file(s) to make them.? I know. Wishful thinking.
73
Stan
KM4HQE
On 12/14/24 18:38, NU2W via groups.io wrote:
> Stan U wud be surprised what a good 3D company can do. Shop > around meet with them and show them what you need. I did and was > amazed. It is a 2 part process each with a cost. And that > varies by a lot. Good luck > > >> On Dec 14, 2024, at 19:27, Stan Gammons via groups.io >> <buttercup11421@...>
?
|
Correct, I was trying to get in contact with Mark Huber NO8J to see if he could provide?
where he got the wheels.? He had stated that it was a manufactured by Torrington and was available. Anyone have another email address for him? He's on QRZ but haven't been able to
contact him there? either.
?
?
?
|
Whoops, misspoke. The blower wheel is no longer produced by Torrington but Mark found a very close replacement. He may not be converting the wheels at this time but I just wanted to get an update on where to get the wheels and if the existing wheels had worked out for those that had bought them? 'No need to re-invent the wheel' hihi, if it's out there already.
|
I am late to this thread apparently there is discussion about L4B and similar blower wheels slash assemblies I have an original L4B blower complete I believe the blower wheel is an excellent or perfect shape I will have to dig it out and look at it. If anyone has an interest in buying it make me an offer thank you Vince N8MQV ?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Phil WX9US via groups.io
Sent: Monday, December 16, 2024 8:22 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [DRAKE-RADIO] L-4B Blower Wheels? Whoops, misspoke. The blower wheel is no longer produced by Torrington but Mark found a very close replacement. He may not be converting the wheels at this time but I just wanted to get an update on where to get the wheels and if the existing wheels had worked out for those that had bought them? 'No need to re-invent the wheel' hihi, if it's out there already.
|
Hi Vince. ?I would like to buy it if it is in good condition as I have an L4 rf deck without a blower. ?Is $40 plus shipping interesting? ? Thanks 73 John
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Dec 16, 2024, at 12:02?PM, Vincent Lanese <mv503a@...> wrote:
I am late to this thread apparently there is discussion about L4B and similar blower wheels slash assemblies I have an original L4B blower complete I believe the blower wheel is an excellent or perfect shape I will have to dig it out and look at it. If anyone has an interest in buying it make me an offer thank you Vince N8MQV ? ? Whoops, misspoke. The blower wheel is no longer produced by Torrington but Mark found a very close replacement. He may not be converting the wheels at this time but I just wanted to get an update on where to get the wheels and if the existing wheels had worked out for those that had bought them? 'No need to re-invent the wheel' hihi, if it's out there already.
|
I will look for the box, give it a quick test and send you a few pics so that you are sure of what is offered.? V ?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of John W4BFS via groups.io
Sent: Monday, December 16, 2024 2:02 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [DRAKE-RADIO] L-4B Blower Wheels? Hi Vince. ?I would like to buy it if it is in good condition as I have an L4 rf deck without a blower. ?Is $40 plus shipping interesting? ? Thanks 73 John
On Dec 16, 2024, at 12:02?PM, Vincent Lanese <mv503a@...> wrote: ? I am late to this thread apparently there is discussion about L4B and similar blower wheels slash assemblies I have an original L4B blower complete I believe the blower wheel is an excellent or perfect shape I will have to dig it out and look at it. If anyone has an interest in buying it make me an offer thank you Vince N8MQV Whoops, misspoke. The blower wheel is no longer produced by Torrington but Mark found a very close replacement. He may not be converting the wheels at this time but I just wanted to get an update on where to get the wheels and if the existing wheels had worked out for those that had bought them? 'No need to re-invent the wheel' hihi, if it's out there already.
?
|
Jim Shorney
Scott KF4DDJ
NU2W