[ARC5] that one cent command receiver from the bay

[Kenneth G. Gordon]

On 10 Apr 2014 at 14:00, Bill Cromwell wrote:

> All the parts to make it play on the 160 meter band (1.5 to 3 mc) are 
> there. All the old caps

too bad, but fixable.

> and resistors are there.

Watch those resistors: they are not insulated in order to make them a bit 
smaller, so if you touch the body of a hot one, it will short out.

> The VFO coils

I assume you mean "BFO" coil...

If that is what you mean, call or text or email Fair Radio Sales. I believe they 
have some. They certainly had the BC band versions, for which I was 
extremely grateful and not a little surprised. They also have audio 
transformers, but the price is pretty high...with reason.

> is not 
> there so I'll just have to wing it there.

See above.

> That and the audio output 
> transformer show clearly as blank holes in the pictures from the auction 
> listing.

Typical...

> Obviously I did NOT apply power. The moving parts are dirty and 
> stiff but not seized.

Open it up, take off the cover over the tuning cap, and get out your small 
bottle of Tri-Flow. Oil everything in sight. The tuning SHOULD be very easy, 
and, with the proper tuning knob adapter, completely backlash free.

FYI, the original "tuning key" exhibits considerable backlash. If you take a 
short piece of 1/4" thin-wall brass tubing, about 1" long, cut two 1/4" long 
slots in one end with a Dremel tool and cut-off wheel, then attach a good 
knob, and CAREFULLY drive the combo over the tuning spline, then center it 
up, you will have the very best tuning knob adapter you could hope for, and 
there will be NO backlash.

However, the FIRST thing you should do after opening up the tuning cap is 
to make absolutely certain none of the ball-bearings have been dislodged. 
One receiver, which I subsequently put back in operation, was missing 
bunches of those itty bitty ball bearings, and because of this, was extremely 
hard to tune. (Big DUH!!!). Externally, one could not even tell the tuning cap 
had been hit.

Fortunately, I had one extremely battered and unusable tuning cap which still 
had those, so I replaced the missing ones and the receiver works perfectly 
now.

There are itty bitty ball bearings both around the shaft of the rotor at the gear 
end, AND a few slightly larger ones at the other end of the rotor. Check them 
all.

> The chances are excellent this radio will be on 
> the air once again!

Yup! :-)

> I won it for a penny and the postage was just over 
> $16. I sent the guy a little more than that to make sure the postage and 
> packing materials were paid for. Now where did I put that bar of soap 
> and brush...

Remove the IF cans and coil pack, cover the resistor boards with something 
impervious to water, and stick it in the dishwasher. That will take all the paint 
off it though...

Then dry in the oven at 150 degrees.

I much prefer a much less "intensive" method of cleaning them, but in the 
last resort, I will use that method. I have never used it on a black-crackle job 
though...

Keep us informed of your progress. Things like this are particularly 
interesting to me. It is so nice to see something like this brought back from 
the dead.

I have two (maybe three) of the ARA versions of those, ALL badly hacked... 
:-(

But useable.

Ken W7EKB