[ARC5] "Rebanding," Keying, Bob's Procedure etc.

[David Stinson]

Got several requests for information, so posting it here.

"Boatanchor Bob's" Non-Destructive procedure for 
putting an " ARC-5 " transmitter on-the-air:

This begins with an unmodified transmitter.  
There are so many variations of hacks and whacks, 
I can't really speak to modified rigs.  Perhaps these
steps can be "adjusted" for a particular situation.

Assuming all cap checks-contact cleaning-lubing has 
been done,  disconnect one wire from the Antenna
relay on the front and "roll" the spring contact around
so the antenna post is always connected.

Turn the rig over and find the Selector relay on the 
chassis side.  Adjust the contacts to have the
PA cathodes make first, then turn on the OSC.

NOTE:  You ground the PA cathodes first so that
the Oscillator will come-up under load.  
If the Osc. comes on first, then the PA, the load
to the Osc. suddenly changes and pulls the freq.
The 1625s can take the microsecond without bias.
You key the rig with the Selector relay.
That's all there is to it, and all the "Modification"
a Command Set transmitter ever needs.

On moving the BC-459 to 30 Meters:
Get some tweezers.  You'll need them.
Take the top off and turn the rig on its side to 
expose the adjustment hole for the Oscillator padder.
Remove the locking screw.  Use the tweezers to 
remove the washer under the swing arm.
If you drop it in the box, may God have mercy on you.

Move the swing arm counter-clockwise just a little-
about the width of the screw head.
Apply power to the filaments and oscillator and
check the freq.  10.1 should be somewhere at
the top end of the tuning range.  Adjust as needed.

We aren't going to be installing this in a B-17, so 
in all the ones I've done, friction keeps the swing arm
in place.  You could pull the pile of screws, remove the 
MO cover, bust-loose the splines on the rotor shaft,
tweek it, put the cover back on, cuss, 
pull it back off etc. if you like.  
I don't go in my closet and beat myself with whips
to purge demons and I don't do this, either.
Your choice.

Now pull the hole stoppers from the side of the rig
and pull the bottom cover.  This time, you will have to 
bust-loose the splines on the center variable cap,
which is the PA padder.  Leave enough tension 
on the rotor shaft so you don't lose the adjustment
right after you make it.   Slip the bottom cover back on
(friction will hold it for now).  Power the rig and use a
screwdriver through the small hole to tune the PA 
for max power out (see the many discussions about 
how to match a 50-Ohm antenna.  My way has 
changed and I'll write about that later).
Tighten the splines and put the covers back on.

73 DE Dave AB5S