[Boatanchors] HQ-180 Need Help

Sun Nov 27 22:45:56 EST 2005

Thanks to all who responded.

Not sure who sent me to antique radio forum, but that was a big help. A push 
on one of T-1's terminals and I heard some crackeling noise. At the time I 
also had the generator and VTVM on so I could have a steady reference. The 
signal level almost doubled.

I also found low voltage (44volts) on the screen of V18. That is the 455kc 
gate. A 6BA6. It should be 88volts. I changed the screen dropping resistor 
and screen bypass cap. Still 44 v. I pulled the 6BA6 and it went to 88 V. 
?????????

Tried several other tubes and still the same. Even tried a 6BZ6. Same thing. 
All other voltages on the 6BA6 are correct and the resistances are all 
correct. EXCEPT for pin 6, the screen. With the new components the 
resistance is correct. Could I have a bad tube socket?????

I did clip lead an 18 K 1/2 watt across the 47K screen resistor and ended up 
with about 85 volts on the screen.

This also helped a lot. Did another quick alignment and now bands 1 - 2  and 
5 - 6 are pretty hot.
Bands 2 - 3 are still pretty much dead.

I still havent pulled T-1. But the pushing of the feminal sure changed the 
T-1 alignment.

For what its worth, I have been finding little stupid things that people 
have been doing to the thing over the years. Like a 90 volt VR tube instead 
of a 140 volt one. Talk about low screen voltages.

Also someone cut the ground wire for the cal trimmer. Had nothing to do with 
present problem of course.

They also had the antenna input wires reversed on the bandswitch. Found that 
early on though.

Will next try the "test the ground" trick. That ought to be fun. But it sure 
makes sense.

Anything else you guys can come up with will really be appreciated.

Maybe I will keep it after all.

I need to check the 170 as it is slightly deaf. Maybe its T-1 or whatever it 
is in a 170 is also going.

I have an HQ-145 and it had a similar problem but it was a problem with low 
injection into the mixer. It is really hot now and my favorite receiver.

                       Thanks again, John

John Page K4KWM
Hollow State since 1953
(ex W8PKU,N8BLB,NA8O)

>From: "John Page" <k4kwm at hotmail.com>
>To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
>Subject: [Boatanchors] HQ-180  Need Help
>Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 19:28:31 +0000
>
>I picked up a very nice looking HQ180. It even worked great. Now it is deaf 
>as a post. I can hear WLW on 700KC quite loud and a couple other broadcast 
>stations. Nothing on band 3. A little on band 4. Band 5 and 6 sometimes. 
>When a station is found it has very bad qsb.
>
>I have done a complete alignment by the book using an HP-606A generator, HP 
>freq counter, and an HP-410B vtvm. All tubes were checked and reinstalled 
>one at a time. I even swapped out most of the tubes one at a time into my 
>HQ-170.
>
>Alignment on these things is complicated but not that difficult and I have 
>gone through it many times.
>
>It will work pretty good and then it will go deaf.
>
>Sometimes, and this ought to be a clue, it wont work at all and I just 
>click the onoff switch on the power strip on the bench and it comes to 
>life. But so far I havent been able to find the problem.
>
>Also all voltages and resistance measurements are as noted in the manual 
>charts.
>
>Also, for what its worth, I hooked up an Ameco nuvistor preamp and when I 
>find a signal on the band, the preamp will really bring the receiver to 
>life. I am talking about s2 to 3 signals going up to 40 db over s9.
>
>I am nowhere near the tech some of you guys are but can usually get one of 
>these things going.
>
>Anybody got any suggestions? I am ready to get rid of the thing but hate to 
>as it was a present from my wife.
>
>Maybe someone on the list works on Hammarlund and would let me ship it to 
>them for repair.
>
>Thanks in advance for any help.   John
>
>John Page K4KWM
>Hollow State since 1953
>(ex W8PKU,N8BLB,NA8O)
>
>
>
>
>>From: "david knepper" <collinsradio at adelphia.net>
>>To: <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
>>Subject: [Boatanchors] 6AM5
>>Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 11:45:49 -0500
>>
>>Need two for an Eddystone 770R receiver.
>>
>>Thank you
>>
>>Dave, W3ST
>>Publisher of the Collins Journal
>>Secretary to the Collins Radio Association
>>www.collinsra.com - the CRA Website
>>CRA Nets: 3805 Khz every Monday at 8 PM EST
>>and 14255 every Saturday at 12 Noon EST
>>
>>_______________________________________________
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>>** List Administrator - Duane Fischer, W8DBF/W9WZE **
>>** For Assistance: dfischer at usol.com **
>>$$ For vintage radio info, see the HCI web site $$
>>http://www.w9wze.org
>>
>
>
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>** List Administrator - Duane Fischer, W8DBF/W9WZE **   ** For Assistance: 
>dfischer at usol.com **         $$ For vintage radio info, see the HCI web 
>site $$      http://www.w9wze.org
>