[Boatanchors] Johnson Ranger

[Lawrence Godek]

I was going to get on the air this morning with the locals on 40M AM, 
7160.  When i turned the switch on the ranger from off to tune, 1st 
step, thee was a flash and loud bang.  From there after the filaments 
were lit, when you went into Phone or CW position the red transmit light 
on the front panel came on but there are no meter reading at all.  no 
voltages, nothing except the filaments are lit.

that indicates the fuses are good.  I see no burn marks anywhere.  The 
flash was on top of the chassis in mid air so where it originated i have 
no idea.  The secondary of the transformer is permanently grounded.  I 
just don't see on the schematic what could have happened.  Sure hope it 
didn't do something to the power tran. as that would be disaster.  The 
transmitter looks brand new underneath.  I replace the filter cap for 
the HV with a 1 Kv type so that shouldn't have anything to do with it.

Any thoughts or experiences similar with your ranger.  This is one sweet 
clean unit.  I have been using it prior to this date and there were no 
indications of any kind, it just went along and talked running about 50W 
out.  Everyone said it sounded super good and to not change anything.  
Just out of the air this happened.

Larry W0OGH