[Boatanchors] Perhaps someone can help this guy with HQ-110 question....

[DAVID E ELLISON]

Hello all,

Got this in my email - maybe someone here can help him out - he's in
South Africa, and has a question on the HQ-110.

Thanks - PLEASE REPLY TO HIM at jicaru@icon.co.za - DO NOT HIT REPLY!



David Ellison WB7AWK



Original message:

Hi

In doing a Google search for "Hammarlund HQ-110 - owners and restoration",
your details came up.

I hope that you do not mind me asking you for assistance in my project to
restore one of these great sets.

Previously I owned a HQ-120 but had to part with it about twenty-odd years
ago due to space (and weight!) constraints.

I bought a HQ-110 from a fellow and discovered that the power transformer
had been fried - well and truly. Mind you, at the price it was a steal. I
have had the power transformer rebuilt and the set works - after a fashion.

On 160m it seems ok - just a lot of flourescent-tube QRM and similar noise
from the nearby power lines along our street. The 80m is as noisy, however,
using the 30 foot wire antenna, I can pick up a few local AM stations loud
and clear - the AF Gain has to be turned down low and one of the stations is
so strong that I have to turn down the RF Gain (Sensitivity) too. On 40m the
set is receiving, however the AF Gain has to be turned up to full and still
the stations are "quiet". The three bands that "work" (160m, 80m and 40m)
all respond to andjustments to the antenna trimmer.

[Normally the 40m band in South Africa is alive with commerical stations. I
realise that being able to pull in ham stations is a way off - this will
become possible only after I have everything working correctly and the set
hooked up to one of my fairly good diplole antennas.]

The AF output with rresssspect to tuned stations is lower still on 20m and
non-existant on 15m, 10, and 6m.  I have been advised to check out T1 and T2
which do the �3000Kc to 455Kc conversion on the higher bands. They seem OK -
even after careful removal, opening and inspection. However, on 40m and 20m,
neither of these transformers seem to respond much to adjustment of the
ferrite cores. I have thoroughly cleaned everything  - switches, etc. I have
switched vaccum tubes around (6BE6's etc). I have checked for dry joints on
most of the soldering.

When the set is turned to "Calibrate" mode, the 100 Kc crystal circuit seems
to be OK - better on the lower bands than on the 10m and 6m bands, but heard
on all. When switched to CW/SSB, the set becomes "microphonic" and it would
appear that the 6AZ8  is the culprit - a gentle tapping on the glass
envelope produces the tell-tale sounds - but only in the CW/SSB mode! The
BFO works in the CW/SSB mode. The Q-multplier circuit seems OK. I have
ordered a new vacuum tube (6AZ8) which shouyld arrive in the next few days.

So, what should I try next?

Any ideas would be gratefully accepted and tried  - all responsibility
remaining mine!


I hope that you can help.

Jim
Johannesburg
South Africa