This is a long short but what the heck, I thought I'd ask
anyway.

Does anyone know where the original factory Drake TR3
service manuals/documents might be found? I would like
to get a hold of the factory TR3 service manual(s). I'm not
referring to the TR3 operating manual, I already have 3 copies
of that manual and schematics. I could be wrong but most likely
Drake destroyed those documents when they stopped producing
and selling ham gear and closed up shop.

My interest is NOT to make copies and sell them but rater to use
them to service my Drake TR3 transceiver I recently picked up on
eBay.



73
Mike W5RKL

Am 10.05.2025 um 13:40 schrieb Steve Wedge, W1ES/4 via groups.io <w1es@...>:

?

Mike, Drake didn’t create any service manuals until the TR7 and TR5. The older equipment only has the owner’s manual that came with the rig.?

The early manuals do have alignment instructions, schematics and a few pictorials that show where the tubes and alignment adjustments are. Although I believe there is a TR-3 Schematic and manual in Garey’s files, the TR-3 is not covered in the same detail as the TR-4.?

73,

Steve Wedge, W1ES

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

Sent from for iOS

On Fri, May 9, 2025 at 21:04, Mike W5RKL via groups.io <mikew5rkl@...> wrote:

This is a long short but what the heck, I thought I'd ask
anyway.

Does anyone know where the original factory Drake TR3
service manuals/documents might be found? I would like
to get a hold of the factory TR3 service manual(s). I'm not
referring to the TR3 operating manual, I already have 3 copies
of that manual and schematics. I could be wrong but most likely
Drake destroyed those documents when they stopped producing
and selling ham gear and closed up shop.

My interest is NOT to make copies and sell them but rater to use
them to service my Drake TR3 transceiver I recently picked up on
eBay.



73
Mike W5RKL

Mike, Drake didn’t create any service manuals until the TR7 and TR5. The older equipment only has the owner’s manual that came with the rig.?

The early manuals do have alignment instructions, schematics and a few pictorials that show where the tubes and alignment adjustments are. Although I believe there is a TR-3 Schematic and manual in Garey’s files, the TR-3 is not covered in the same detail as the TR-4.?

73,

Steve Wedge, W1ES

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

Sent from for iOS

On Fri, May 9, 2025 at 21:04, Mike W5RKL via groups.io <mikew5rkl@...> wrote:

This is a long short but what the heck, I thought I'd ask
anyway.

Does anyone know where the original factory Drake TR3
service manuals/documents might be found? I would like
to get a hold of the factory TR3 service manual(s). I'm not
referring to the TR3 operating manual, I already have 3 copies
of that manual and schematics. I could be wrong but most likely
Drake destroyed those documents when they stopped producing
and selling ham gear and closed up shop.

My interest is NOT to make copies and sell them but rater to use
them to service my Drake TR3 transceiver I recently picked up on
eBay.



73
Mike W5RKL

Is there a ?real‘ service manual for the TR5? All I have is a big schematic and a somewhat better manual.?

The manuals for the TR7/R7 are excellent. The best I have for amateur radio. (HP used to have outstanding service manuals…)

There is a nice service manual for the UV-3!?

73, Dieter DL5RDO

Von meinem iPhone gesendet

Am 10.05.2025 um 13:40 schrieb Steve Wedge, W1ES/4 via groups.io <w1es@...>:

?

Mike, Drake didn’t create any service manuals until the TR7 and TR5. The older equipment only has the owner’s manual that came with the rig.?

The early manuals do have alignment instructions, schematics and a few pictorials that show where the tubes and alignment adjustments are. Although I believe there is a TR-3 Schematic and manual in Garey’s files, the TR-3 is not covered in the same detail as the TR-4.?

73,

Steve Wedge, W1ES

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

Sent from for iOS

On Fri, May 9, 2025 at 21:04, Mike W5RKL via groups.io < mikew5rkl@...> wrote:

This is a long short but what the heck, I thought I'd ask
anyway.

Does anyone know where the original factory Drake TR3
service manuals/documents might be found? I would like
to get a hold of the factory TR3 service manual(s). I'm not
referring to the TR3 operating manual, I already have 3 copies
of that manual and schematics. I could be wrong but most likely
Drake destroyed those documents when they stopped producing
and selling ham gear and closed up shop.

My interest is NOT to make copies and sell them but rater to use
them to service my Drake TR3 transceiver I recently picked up on
eBay.



73
Mike W5RKL

Steve,

Thanks for your response. Other than the radios Instruction manual included
with the radio, I thought R.L. Drake would have Factory documents with pictures
that covered the TR3 radios such as the factory assembly document of the TR3
for example.

I received 2 TR3 schematics along with another clear copy of the TR3 Instruction
manual when I recently ordered the TR4/TR4C service manuals from Carol.
K4OAH service manual CDs or pdf files doesn't include the TR3.

If I understand the 2 schematic date codes, one is 6363500 which I believe is
June 3 1963 edition 500? The other is 1018633001 which I believe is Oct 18 1963
edition 3001? The TR3 Instruction manual schematic has a date code of 618641000
which I believe may be Jun 18 1964 edition 1000? The manual's AC-3 power supply
date code is 913632501 possibly Sept 13 1963 edition 2501? I could not find any
additional date codes in the Instruction manual.

The problem my TR3 had was during power up resistor R111 smoked / burnt in half due to
a shorted C145B capacitor in the can. C145B is a 60ufd 250VDC capacitor. It measures
"106.9 ufd" on my LCR meter both in and out of the circuit as shown in the picture below.
I ordered the TR3 capacitor kit from hayseedhamfest and it's in the mail and should arrive
next week.

73
Mike W5RKL

On 5/10/25 6:40 AM, Steve Wedge, W1ES/4 via groups.io wrote:

Mike, Drake didn’t create any service manuals until the TR7 and TR5. The older equipment only has the owner’s manual that came with the rig.?

The early manuals do have alignment instructions, schematics and a few pictorials that show where the tubes and alignment adjustments are. Although I believe there is a TR-3 Schematic and manual in Garey’s files, the TR-3 is not covered in the same detail as the TR-4.?

73,

Steve Wedge, W1ES

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

Sent from for iOS

On Fri, May 9, 2025 at 21:04, Mike W5RKL via groups.io < mikew5rkl@...> wrote:

This is a long short but what the heck, I thought I'd ask
anyway.

Does anyone know where the original factory Drake TR3
service manuals/documents might be found? I would like
to get a hold of the factory TR3 service manual(s). I'm not
referring to the TR3 operating manual, I already have 3 copies
of that manual and schematics. I could be wrong but most likely
Drake destroyed those documents when they stopped producing
and selling ham gear and closed up shop.

My interest is NOT to make copies and sell them but rater to use
them to service my Drake TR3 transceiver I recently picked up on
eBay.



73
Mike W5RKL

I couldn’t remember if there was any TR-3 info in the files. I do have a TR-3 section on my drive where I keep all my radio stuff.?

I’m sure there were engineering drawings for all of the Drake products but I have never heard of any surviving. It’s rather like the early (1957) 1-A, which also doesn’t seem to have a complete schematic.?

Steve Wedge, W1ES

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

Sent from for iOS

On Sat, May 10, 2025 at 08:33, Mike W5RKL via groups.io < mikew5rkl@...> wrote:

Steve,

Thanks for your response. Other than the radios Instruction manual included
with the radio, I thought R.L. Drake would have Factory documents with pictures
that covered the TR3 radios such as the factory assembly document of the TR3
for example.

I received 2 TR3 schematics along with another clear copy of the TR3 Instruction
manual when I recently ordered the TR4/TR4C service manuals from Carol.
K4OAH service manual CDs or pdf files doesn't include the TR3.

If I understand the 2 schematic date codes, one is 6363500 which I believe is
June 3 1963 edition 500? The other is 1018633001 which I believe is Oct 18 1963
edition 3001? The TR3 Instruction manual schematic has a date code of 618641000
which I believe may be Jun 18 1964 edition 1000? The manual's AC-3 power supply
date code is 913632501 possibly Sept 13 1963 edition 2501? I could not find any
additional date codes in the Instruction manual.

The problem my TR3 had was during power up resistor R111 smoked / burnt in half due to
a shorted C145B capacitor in the can. C145B is a 60ufd 250VDC capacitor. It measures
"106.9 ufd" on my LCR meter both in and out of the circuit as shown in the picture below.
I ordered the TR3 capacitor kit from hayseedhamfest and it's in the mail and should arrive
next week.

73
Mike W5RKL

On 5/10/25 6:40 AM, Steve Wedge, W1ES/4 via groups.io wrote:

Mike, Drake didn’t create any service manuals until the TR7 and TR5. The older equipment only has the owner’s manual that came with the rig.?

The early manuals do have alignment instructions, schematics and a few pictorials that show where the tubes and alignment adjustments are. Although I believe there is a TR-3 Schematic and manual in Garey’s files, the TR-3 is not covered in the same detail as the TR-4.?

73,

Steve Wedge, W1ES

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

Sent from for iOS

On Fri, May 9, 2025 at 21:04, Mike W5RKL via groups.io < mikew5rkl@...> wrote:

This is a long short but what the heck, I thought I'd ask
anyway.

Does anyone know where the original factory Drake TR3
service manuals/documents might be found? I would like
to get a hold of the factory TR3 service manual(s). I'm not
referring to the TR3 operating manual, I already have 3 copies
of that manual and schematics. I could be wrong but most likely
Drake destroyed those documents when they stopped producing
and selling ham gear and closed up shop.

My interest is NOT to make copies and sell them but rater to use
them to service my Drake TR3 transceiver I recently picked up on
eBay.



73
Mike W5RKL