I want to thank EVERYONE. Wow. I'm operating above my pay-grade working on these and between the manual (theory of operation) and your suggestions I will be awhile understanding what's going on. At least a little bit. But then that's why I enjoy this it's a learning exercise. I have some specific tech questions but want to mull things over some more and will ask in a new thread with an appropriate subject.
I actually have two 485 both inop. Both blew fuses but the other stopped with replacement of the big caps; this one obviously is still not happy. I think I'm going to button this one up for now (I'm short on space) and focus on the other.
Just for future Googlers:
2N6308 is listed obsolete and not in stock at Digikey or Mouser; but TEDSS.com has them reasonable and they're all over eBay. TEDDS sometimes has stuff and I've had good service. I may get a handful cause they're cheap and apparently oem so how bad can they be.
BU208A is listed obsolete if at all and not in stock but also eBay and plentiful.
So thanks again. I'll jot this all down in the notebook and be back with questions on the 'at least it don't blow the fuse up' scope after more book study.
John W0MPM