[AMRadio] Seeking advice for 1st time restoration -- Viking II

[J. Mark Bolton]

After years of surfing the web and admiring pictures of beautifully restored
boatanchor classics I now find myself with a Johnson Viking II waiting to be
returned to the AM airwaves.

The transmitter appears to be physically complete and unmodified. There are
no holes in the chassis or panel and all of the knobs are in place. The only
part missing is the perforated metal top. (Does anyone have one from a
"parts" radio they would like to sell?)

I have been only a lurker of this list for years, I've tried to soak up all
of the knowledge this group has collectively shared. More recently, in
regards to this Viking II transmitter, I have read most everything a Google
search reveals.

At this point I would very much appreciate any advice, guidance, warnings or
assistance that anyone can offer for my restoration efforts. I am not an
electrical engineer or a technician. I have never repaired a radio from the
component level. I can solder, clean a chassis, install connectors, build
antennas and other basic stuff and I read insatiably.

But, I have always been only an "appliance operator". I have a working
knowledge of electronics. I use a Fluke 87 multi-meter, a Bird wattmeter and
a frequency counter and I've have played only casually with an oscilloscope
to monitor modulation. I've never worked at the component lever with a
radio.

During my teenage years I was a radio disk jockey for a small-market station
and worked under the tutelage of a First-Class broadcast engineer. At age 16
I was down at the transmitter shack assisting with a Proof of Performance
and learned much about the insides of a Gates BC-1J (1000 watts with
833A's). Just as a sidebar to this story, when the modulation transformer on
the Gates transmitter failed, I ran home and robbed the transformer from my
BC-610. That got WBLO back on the air, at least for a few days, before my
BC-610 transformer also failed.

At the end of my teenage years I let a lot of great old radios slip thru my
hands, not knowing that one day I'd give just about anything to have them
all back. I had an R-390A receiver, A National NC 300, a BC-348 receiver, A
BC-610 transmitter, now minus a modulation transformer,  a Globe King 500, a
Johnson Valiant transmitter and a host of other radios.

Dang it, I sure wish I had any one of those back.

I was first licensed at 15 as a Novice and then joined Army MARS (That's why
I had all the old AM gear). Now at age 54 I have a rekindled interest in the
hobby. I listen to the AM guys on 3.885 and occasionally when the band is
quiet, I have a few short QSO with 25 watts coming from a Yaseu FT-450. But
I dream of a good solid plate modulated AM signal.

I know this Viking II is still not going to produce a powerhouse signal on
80 meters but it only cost me $50 at the Orlando, FL hamfest and that's what
I have for the moment. It doesn't look too challenging to work on and I
think it will be a good "experience rig" to learn some restoration
techniques.

So, here's where I am at present.

1.	I've resisted the urge to plug the rig in - even though I have a
Variac - I've read enough to believe trying to heat it up would likely
result is an exploded capacitor then I'd have a real mess to clean up.
2.	I have an original manual
3.	I've made a shopping list of all of the paper/electrolytic
capacitors
4.	I've made no efforts yet to clean the chassis or to lubricate the
shafts of the various controls. Some are a little stiff.  One concern is the
160 meter In/Out control that uses dial cord to operate a ceramic wafer
switch. I'm afraid it would not take much to break that cord and don't want
to add restringing the dial cord to my list of "must do" items.

I would appreciate any advice on changing out capacitors. I haven't ordered
yet but I have found most of then at www.justradios.com

Do I need to also change the little square mica capacitors?  Hopefully just
the paper electrolytics. Other than blowing out the dust with an air
compressor I had intended to do the least amount of disassembly possible
until I could recap the transmitter and then power it up. 

But assuming that is a success, what is the best advice of chassis cleaning.
I don't want to do more harm than good. I was thinking of DeoXIT for the
controls and tube sockets.

So that's where I stand for now. Here are a few pictures, actually a LOT of
pictures. 

http://photos.coastalec.com/Other/Viking-II-Restoration/18091728_d2pktp


I'd sure appreciate all advice and assistance.

ka4cid at arrl.net
Mark Bolton
Richmond Hill, GA