[Boatanchors] 6146 question

[Peter Markavage]

"but it IS NOT recommended that you use the B (or later W's) in the
Viking Rangers or other Viking rigs as they can very quickly do a
"meltdown"

Where did you hear this?? 
I know I'm probably walking on the 6146 holy grail here again, but my
Ranger I has been running on a 6146B since 1988. My Ranger II has a
6146W, probably B equivalent because date code was around 67/68. One of
my Valiants has 2 B's and a W and the other Valiant has 2 B's and a A or
maybe it's 2 A's and B. Probably not a good idea but they've been running
in there since 91. If ya got a B or a W or some other 4 digit equivalent,
put it in, and run for it several days. If your tuning doesn't become
"flaky", all meter reading are normal, and the case doesn't turn bright
red, leave it in. If you're a sane person, you probably don't want to mix
tube models like I do. My Apache also runs 2 6146B's. It think they've
been in there since the mid 70's.
Reading Glen's dissertation on the 6146's is also a good idea because,
among other things, it gives some insight into this family of tubes and
also some of the problems manufacturers had when they tried to convert to
using the B family. Condemning their use in all vintage rigs probably is
incorrect. It seems the 6146 hype paranoia has taken on a life of its
own.

Pete, wa2cwa


On Wed, 14 Jul 2004 01:45:02 +0000 Philip B Atchley <ko6bb at juno.com>
writes:
> Ray,
> I have a Viking Ranger here that also uses a single 6146 or 6146A.  
> It
> too is a CW & Plate modulated AM rig and has no neutralization at 
> all.
> While doing some troubleshooting I once subbed a 6146B for a short 
> time
> with no problems.  It worked OK, but it IS NOT recommended that you 
> use
> the B (or later W's) in the Viking Rangers or other Viking rigs as 
> they
> can very quickly do a "meltdown".  I suspect the same applies to 
> the
> Heath rigs.  Good rule of thumb for the older rigs, if in doubt use 
> the
> 6146 OR 6146A.
> 
> 73 de Phil  KO6BB
> 
> On Tue, 13 Jul 2004 18:46:00 -0600 Ray Friess 
> <rayfri at highstream.net>
> writes:
> > Glenn:
> > Understand the rules for substituting 6146 tubes thanks to your 
> > article 
> > on the subject.  I have a question though...
> > How about in the older AM/CW Heath rigs, such as the DX 40, DX 100 
> 
> > and 
> > the Apache ?    Adjusting
> > neutralization is not called for when replacing the finals in 
> those 
> > 
> > rigs...    Do the same 6146 rules apply as in
> > the sideband transmitters?    Could I use a 6146W in those am/cw 
> > rigs 
> > without worrying about when the tubes
> > were made?
> > Ray  wa7itz

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