[Boatanchors] SX-115 - Success!

[Paul]

For those following this saga: 
   
  I removed the variable if cap (C33A/B) for repair. The original rotor plates were pressed and crimped into place on the rotor shaft, not soldered. After getting them reinstalled and aligned, I put a drop of JB Weld epoxy between the rotor shaft and the rotor plate, on the outside edges where it won't interfer with the rotation of the shaft. This should hold, I have very good luck with JB Weld. 
   
  I didn't get any responses as to how to position the rotor plates initially, so after reinstalling the if variable, I took a look at the mesh from one side of the main dial variable cap to the other. As I suspected, while the main dial tuning cap rotates a full 180 degrees (actually, just a bit more), due to gearing the 6.0-6.5 if variable cap C33 only rotates about 140 to 150 degrees. So what I decided to do was set the if variable about 20 degrees up from full mesh with the main tuning cap at full mesh. Then with the main tuning cap at the opposite end, or minimum mesh, the if cap had turned so that it still lacked about 20 degrees of minimum mesh. I hped that this arangement would allow me to use the if transformer and capacitor trimmer adjustments to align them. I then did an alignment at both ends of the 6.0-6.5mc if under these conditions and things peaked just fine. 
   
  I can happily report that this has completely resolved all my major concerns with the SX-115. I now have very good sensitivity across the entire band and also now have the full audio level I expected from one end of the band to the other.
   
  The radio is now back in the cabinet, on the shelf, and I have been making many QSO's with it, mostly european dx on 75 meters. Love this radio!
   
  Only thing left is to swap the 11 meter 33.505mc crystal for the 34.505mc to get on 10 meters 28.0-28.5mc (have a crystal on the way) and also to install a proper 12AX7, one of which is also on the way, since I still have the original 12AT7 in the audio chain instead of the proper 12AX7. Actually the audio is fine now, so a good 12AX7 should only make things better.
   
  Hope I haven't bored you with these status reports, hopefully it will help someone else faced with similar unusual problems with their radio projects.
   
  73, Paul W2EC