[Boatanchors] AR 88 Discussions

[Richard Knoppow]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rj Mattson" <wn2ami at gmail.com>
To: "Boatanchors QTH" <Boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, February 03, 2014 12:20 PM
Subject: [Boatanchors] AR 88 Discussions


>I have a nice looking AR-88 I purchased at the fall AWA 
>tailgate meet
> in Canandaigua, NY.
> I believe it came from Toronto, Canada.
> I notice there is a "Diversity gain" labeled knob in the 
> lower right
> hand corner but no model is visible front or back.
> Can this be a model F ?
> I was told it was working but never tried it out because 
> it has an oil
> capacitor slightly leaking near the rear bottom cover.
> Sure would like to trade it for a Hammarlund ED-4.
> Regards,
> bob...w2ami x wn2ami 1962
>
    This is probably an F but look at the back. The F 
version has an Amphenol microphone style connector in about 
the center of the back "apron" (RCA term) and the terminal 
strip has markings for AVC and Diode or Diode load. The 
coaxial connector is a sample of the IF brought out for a 
tuning monitor. All of the bathtub caps are oil filled paper 
caps and it seems most have developed leaky seals. The ones 
in my AR-88 still worked even though they had lost all their 
oil but they should be replaced.
    The earlier AR-88D was also intended for diversity work, 
D is for diversity, but has only the AVC brought out the 
back and does not have the gain trimmer or AVC 
modifications. It is essentially identical to the A version.
    After a couple of attempts I decided I did not want to 
try restuffing the caps. I think a determined person could 
get them apart with a couple of sufficiently large soldering 
irons. It would be a messy job because of the oil and 
potting compound inside.  I found terminal strips that would 
fit and used those to mount the new caps. Not authentic but 
works. There are some restorers who restuff bathtubs 
routinely.
    The filter cap is a three unit oil filled paper cap. 
Mine is just fine. From reports these caps do not seem to 
leak or go bad, at least not very often.
    I had to look up the ED-4, it appears to be a 
"foundation" for building a transmitter.
    Make sure your AR-88 goes to someone who appreciates 
what it is and will restore it.


--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
dickburk at ix.netcom.com