[ARC5] Reviving squealing "command" receivers (re-capping)

[Richard Schumann]

Thanks Bob and the group,

I think the best plan for someone like me is the follow the sage advice of the group and just replace the caps that are known problems, rather than buy test equipment and 'reinvent the wheel' so to speak, to duplicate the exemplary efforts of those who have gone before, unless one wanted to do so just for the pure enjoyment of it (a valid reason to be sure).

You guys with the best equipment (and requisite time) have already done the groundwork that will benefit us types that just need to get the old girls up and running per factory specs.

What might be advantageous (and may already exist) is a source (website) one could go to for a particular receiver and find listed therein:

a)    Which capacitors need to be replaced (and if you want to keep it cosmetically virgin, the necessary steps).

and 

b)    Where to purchase the necessary caps (and perhaps any resistors that have 'strayed').

I have a number of command receivers and xmtrs awaiting my retirement and am thinking I won't have energy or drive to replicate many of the feats I have read on this and other lists, but still want to enjoy working with them.  

Great read from you all!

Richard kn7sfz


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bob Macklin 
  To: WA5CAB at cs.com ; arc5 at mailman.qth.net 
  Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2011 1:53 PM
  Subject: Re: [ARC5] Reviving squealing "command" receivers (re-capping)


  I make them work by just replacing all the capacitors with modern ones.

  Once the unit is closed back up it does not bother me.

  There really is a limit to restoring old radios. Some of it is more bother 
  than it is worth. If you want a museum piece leave it alone. If you want a 
  good working radio just replace them.

  If you pull out the bathtubs there is a lot of room for modern capacitors. 
  And some can be replaced by disk ceramics.

  Bob Macklin
  K5MYJ
  Seattle, Wa.
  "Real Radios Glow In The Dark"