[ARC5] RAX Project: First Light

David Stinson arc5 at ix.netcom.com
Tue Nov 28 08:18:23 EST 2017


Starting the resurrection of the set of three RAX
receivers.
Beginning with receiver #3, since it had a severe
case of 
"The Golden Screwdriver" and "The Dykes of Doom."
Like too many of our rigs, this radio was fiddled
with
some cloudy ideas, abandoned without finishing,
then tossed onto the junk pile. The filament
string had 
been about a quarter rewired, the power connector 
chopped out, etc.  From the moment the guy clipped

the first wire, the radio never did another
moment's work from that time to now.  

Found a "parter" at Hamcomm with an selenium AC
supply 
installed on the back deck from which came the 
power connector and the top.  Was going to
dismantle
the "parter" for spares but out of curiosity,
powered
it up on a variac and, wonders, the thing plays!
Can't bring myself to destroy a playing radio, so 
passed it along to a gentleman who would enjoy 
working with it.

Got the connector installed, the filaments fixed
and other doofuss-try corrected. Powered it up
slowly to the "target B+" of 135V Regulated.
Pulling about 50 mills at that level, so may
have a slightly leaky bypass to find.
"First light:"

https://photos.app.goo.gl/bLvPXBCKSd1ubVU42

Now to pull the bandswitch covers and burn through
some De-Ox-It.  Also check all those alignment 
caps with the "press fit" nuts on them.  RAX is
infamous for those being broken, just like early
TCS.
 
GL OM ES 73 DE Dave AB5S




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