[ARC5] ARC-5 T-20 Frequency coverage and other questions

[WA5CAB--- via ARC5]

Andrew,

I can't help you with retuning the transmitter to cover 75 and 80 meters.  
Except to say that C-60 only affects the PA tuning (the 1625's).  In order 
to move the output frequency down, you will also have to move the VFO down.

On the plastic window and scale, if the scale is engraved and was 
white-filled, remove the aluminum scale frame from the transmitter.  Also, remove the 
cover over the VFO tank coil as you probably left Dawn in there.  Wash the 
rest of the Dawn off., and dry thoroughly.

Obtain some latex (water based) white ceiling paint and a handfull of those 
little metal tubular handle brushes with short stiff bristles usually sold 
to apply PVC cement.  Get a wet sponge (maybe the one in your soldering 
station) and several sheets of paper towel.  Fold the paper towel down to about 
3" or 4" square and dampen it near one corner on the sponge.  You can use 
half a sheet at a time.  Open the can of paint and thoroughly stir it.  
Re-close the can securily, invert it, turn it back upright and let it sit 4 or 5 
minutes.  Remove the lid and stick the bristles of one of the brushes into 
the paint sitting on the bottom side of the lid.  Dab (not brush) the lightly 
paint loaded bristles into the engraving to fill it.  Pick up the dampened 
paper towel and wipe the dampened spot the full length of the scale.  If you 
don't get all of the excess paint on the first swipe, rotate the towell 
square, dampen the second corner and swipe it across the scale again (or just 
the portion not yet cleaned up).  NEVER reuse a spot on the towel.  From the 
time of the first brush dab until finished cleaning, you have I'd guess about 
30 seconds total before the paint dries too much and you will have to dip 
the scale in water and use a different brush to scrub all of the paint off, 
dry thoroughly, and start over from scratch.  If you find that you cannot 
finish the whole scale before you have to abort and clean the paint off, try 
doing half of the scale at a time.  Allow say half an hour drying time between 
halves.

Robert Downs - Houston
wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
MVPA 9480

In a message dated 07/30/2014 16:19:56 PM Central Daylight Time, 
andrewkopke at rocketmail.com writes: 
> Hello all, I'm new to the group and a new owner of a ARC-5 T-20
> 
> After doing some reading on line ,It appears as though this model could 
> cover the 80 meter band mentioned in one of the conversion manuals ( I think 
> it was "Command Sets" published by CQ ) Anyway, That mod mentions adding a 
> capacitor somewhere . There is another modification that involves C-60 and, 
> making the plates of that capacitor fully meshed. I took the cover off and 
> sure enough the paint seals were broken and the capacitor was closed.
> 
> I haven't even begun building the power supply as of yet . I do have  a 
> 24v dc 2.5 amp supply.
> I have alot of questions to follow ,but my first question is :does anyone 
> know if this transmitter will cover the bottom CW portion of the 80 meter 
> band with the plates of C-60 closed?  I don't see any other modifications 
> done. I washed the set in the sink with dawn and rinsed with distilled water  
> unfortuately, I washed off the white ink behind the plastic window of the 
> roller inductor scale ,but can still see the number scale engraved in the 
> plastic. I suppose I could just get a white paint marker and re- do it . Any 
> thoughts? 
> 
> Thanks for any insight,
> 
> Andrew Kopke