[Collins] 32S-3 Will Not Tune-UP

[Gerald]

On Sun, 2005-10-30 at 20:23 -0600, Jim wrote:
> Hi, all. I am from New Orleans and finally got a around to cranking up
> my S-Line for the first time since Katrina. I seem to have a problem
> with my 32S-3. I can't get the first part of the Tune-Up to work.  The
> radio does not show any movement on the meter at the P.A. position
> when I turn up the MIC GAIN, first step listed in the Tune-up. If
> anyone can point me in the correct direction to start trouble shooting
> it would be greatly appreciated, and cut a lot of time off my learning
> curve. Radio worked fine before the storm and was disconnected and
> covered for the weeks following the storm.
> 
> 
> Thanks
> --
>  73 De Jim N5TJZ
> 
Quite likely a dirty bandswitch contact. 

May need a few more checks. When you go to transmit in SSB mode, is the
idling plate current correct? If you crank up the drive in tune or lock
key does the grid current rise to show a tuning peak?

Does it do differently on different bands?

Moving the bandswitch from end of rotation to end of rotation a few
times often cleans up bandswitch contacts temporarily. I remember having
to do that to my 32S1 the last times I had power on it. A long cure
needs a really good contact cleaner like DeoxIT from Cramolin applied a
quarter drop per contact. Spraying isn't a good idea because its not the
kind of stuff you want impregnating insulating switch wafers.

Could also be corrosion of the contacts on some trimmer capacitors but
that will be band specific unless they all have corroded open. Which
isn't an impossible scenario.
-- 
73, Jerry, K0CQ, Technical Advisor to the CRA
All content copyright Dr. Gerald N. Johnson, electrical engineer