[Collins] Restoring a Collins 32V-3

[Jim DiMauro]

I do a lot of boatanchor resurrections (including two
32v-2s), and my personal philosophy is to fix what's
already broken, proactively replace what's not yet
broken but could endanger the radio if they fail (for
example, old DC blocking caps ahead of mechanical
filters in receivers), and leave the rest to my spirit
of adventure (how many trouble-free QSOs can I get?). 
I like to keep things in perspective.  For example, if
I'm getting an aircraft ready for the sky, Gerald's
approach is the only way to go; failures at 25,000
feet can sometimes be inconvenient.  However, if my
'V-2 quits in the middle of an old buzzard
transmission, well, so what, it was probably time to
me to shut up anyway.

Just take care to protect the radio from catastrophic
failure (and that doesn't require stripping the
chassis), and DON'T over-restore the thing.  There's
nothing quite like factory wiring and solder joints,
and no matter how good you may be, a disturbed joint
just isn't going to look as good as the one that was
made 50+ years ago by the Iowa housewife with the
hairnet.

Good luck with your radio.  Overall, I think you'll be
pleased with it.  They're not the most
service-friendly radios out there, but they're built
to last forever.

73,
Jim
W2BVM

--- Gerald <geraldj at ispwest.com> wrote:

> On Thu, 2005-12-15 at 15:48 -0700, T. Brad Smith
> wrote:
> > Greetings,
> 
> > I'm on the look out for the BEST information
> possible on the Restoration of
> > a Collins 32V-3 That I just purchased.
> 
> > Have not taken delivery of as of yet so I don't
> know what I will be faced
> > with, BUT in the end I want to have a First Class
> Collins AM rig back on the
> > air ....
> 
> > Many Thanks,
> 
> > 73, and   M E R R Y   C H R I S T M A S    to you
> all .....  
> 
> > de KA5CDJ
> 
> Very likely, every paper capacitor (whether waxed or
> molded) will have a
> lot of leakage current. They will need to be
> replaced. Every
> electrolytic capacitor will be even worse and will
> need to be replaced. 
> 
> Resistors of that age will have drifted so each
> should be checked
> (taking into account circuit connections that modify
> the resistance
> reading) that its within the original tolerance.
> Age, humidity, and heat
> makes carbon composition resistors rise in value.
> 
> Depending on storage conditions, transformers can
> have excessive leakage
> from moisture absorbed in the paper insulators. They
> can be dried gently
> in ovens or by running current at low voltage
> through the windings. If
> wet insulation breaks down from applied voltage, it
> has to be replaced.
> Drying won't remove the carbon tracks from that
> arcing.
> 
> Then there will be raspy potentiometers and variable
> capacitor wipers.
> Cramolin makes products that help them. Some will be
> too bad to be
> helped and will have to be replaced.
>  
> And the most fragile components, the tubes. Some
> will be weak, some
> worse.
> 
> -- 
> 
> 73, Jerry, K0CQ, Technical Advisor to the CRA
> All content copyright Dr. Gerald N. Johnson,
> electrical engineer
>  
> >  
> 
>
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