[Boatanchors] Looking for any other Tri-X 500 owners

[manualman at juno.com]

Here's one picture:
http://www.ceraplaza.com/hl5fxp/oldradio/old_radio_2-9.jpg 

Pete, wa2cwa

On Sun, 02 Jan 2011 17:21:05 -0500 john <johnmb at nc.rr.com> writes:
> Hello Gang,
> 
> I've finally gotten a Tri-X 500 startup circuit going after this rig 
> has 
> sat on my bench for a year.  The TriX is an unusual self contained 
> HF 
> transmitter using a 4X150 final tube for 500w input on SSB (so says 
> the 
> manual).  Not many were made, and did I mention this thing is heavy  
> and 
> big? It's unusual not only in its PA tube choice but also in that is 
> has a 
> cast chassis, not a bent aluminum box. I believe it's ~80 lbs or so. 
> It's 
> not quite as big as a Halli HT9, but it's kind of in between that 
> and a 
> "normal" modern SSB rig.  It's built with all very good parts, and 
> must 
> have cost a fortune when new.
> 
> When I received the rig, the time delay tube would not make solid 
> contact... this was a problem as it was trying to engage a two pole 
> double 
> throw relay , one pole of which activated the HV and the other was 
> configured as a latching relay (thanks Wilson!). Since it would not 
> make 
> solid connection, the HV pole was toggling on and off and these 
> transients/arc  had eaten the relay contact.  I took the leaf stack 
> apart 
> and substituted the one unused pole for the one which had been 
> ruined. I 
> also took a small file and scored the envelope for the time delay 
> relay and 
> was able to pop off the glass envelope without shattering the glass 
> by 
> thermally stressing it on the scored area with a hot wire powered by 
> a DC 
> bench supply. I'll probably need to try and find a replacement tube 
> OR try 
> and super glue the tube top back on, now that the contacts are 
> cleaned and 
> the TD tube is functioning again.
> 
> ANYWAY.... I've gotten this going and would really like to talk to 
> anyone 
> else who might have one of these, particularly if they have it on 
> the 
> air.  The one I have does not have the meter markings that are 
> referenced 
> in the manual so I'm flying blind a bit. I think the drive control 
> pot is 
> noisy and I need to fix that next, but if anyone else has one of 
> these on 
> the air I'd love to compare notes.
> 
> I can find no pictures of this rig on the web... I'll have to fix 
> that!
> 
> 73 and HNY
> John K5MO