[Boatanchors] ongoing Johnson adventure

[Bill Henderson]

they really should package and sell the magic smoke so that it, too can be
replaced when it escapes.....

(HIHI) de CF3HWA / Bill H.



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On Fri, Feb 10, 2017 at 10:33 PM, Bill Cromwell <wrcromwell at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I have a Johnson Ranger that has been in my hands since the late 80s. I
> have put it in place on the shack table, bench, or desk numerous times over
> the years. I have made the occasional repair on it over all that time. Last
> time I opened it to look at something I found the screen bypass cap was
> broken - one lead wire was broken off at the cap body. I set it on the
> shelf and turned my attention to other things. I have been thinking to use
> it in the upcoming NRR so I put it on the bench belly up. I have several
> brand new, suitable caps and I installed one of them and buttoned it back
> up. I hooked up to power and a dummy load, wattmeter, and key. I turned it
> on and let it warm up a couple minutes in standby mode. Soon, something
> smelled hot and I turned it off just as a wisp of smoke sneaked out of the
> top vent holes. It already has the electrolytics and a couple of out of
> spec resistors replaced (and worked on air for a while with those). This
> weekend I will be working on it. First suspect is the new screen bypass cap
> which is essentially across the power supply (or part of it). My Kenwood
> T-599 started smoking at Field Day a few years ago and it didn't take very
> much effort to fix it (back home after FD). The Ranger is simpler so I am
> hopeful I will get to use it for NRR. The drive pot feels crunchy. I
> started having doubts about that during it's last run on the bench. I found
> a brand new one for it and I have it on it's way here. That is in the
> screen dropping circuit of the driver tube so it is also partly across low
> B+. Suspect number 2. I have working, identical drive pots in three
> Heathkit transmitters if all else fails. I am reluctant to disturb them so
> I am waiting to see if the parts I ordered will fit. I ordered a 25K, 5
> watt pot to replace the 25K, 4 watt pot that (may have) failed after only
> 57 years or so!
>
> I have used that TX for all of my contacts (not all that impressive) on
> 160 meters. Once upon a time I used it to log into a Navy-Marine Corps MARS
> phone net while the 'pretty' radio was down for TLC. It is awsome on the CB
> channels! Just kidding! I like the TX but it is really feeling it's age!
> Come to think of it, I'm feeling some of that too.
>
> 73,
>
> Bill  KU8H
>
> --
> bark less - wag more
>
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