[Collins] refurbished s line

[Dr. Gerald N. Johnson]

On Mon, 2008-12-15 at 14:25 -0600, Carey Lockhart wrote:
> thanks for all the comments and i tend to agree with you bob. thats
> why i asked. i feel that i have a very reliable set now BUT...to a
> collector it is worthless. i really have no plans to sell. i was
> building them to be keepers. live and learn hihi.
>  
> carey, kc5gtt
> 
Sounds to me its closer to original than when you received it, except
for the frosted LED pilot lights, and they are easily changed to the
original lamps. 

Without replacing black beauty and electrolytics, its just a static
shelf display, not suitable for use, so the only question is whether
your soldering would have passed the factory inspection.

And they will need a complete alignment after you replace all the tubes,
including the three driver, pa, and feedback neutralization adjustments.
Don't try to run any pa tubes but 6146, no A, no B, no W.

Now, some of the mods, like the 4 diode balanced modulator, are a
serious improvement of the transmitter and covered in a service bulletin
from the era of the transmitter.
> 
> On Mon, Dec 15, 2008 at 9:14 AM, Bob McGraw - K4TAX
> <RMcGraw at blomand.net> wrote:
>         Carey:
>          
>         From your descriptions, I'm sure you have made great
>         improvements in the appearance and operation of the Collins
>         equipment.  As I see things, the negative side of your project
>         is the fact that the equipment is now far from original.  From
>         my viewpoint, as one with a Collins S-Line, most folks and
>         collectors view original parts, original materials and
>         such being greatly preferred.
>          
>         Surplus Sales of Nebraska has one of the best sources for
>         original Collins parts, although they seem to be a bit
>         expensive.    In my case I purchased a couple of "junker"
>         items just to have a source for original knobs, feet, jacks
>         and such.  My station refurbishment took years in the making
>         as a search for parts was very time consuming, however the
>         result is 100% Collins.
>          
>         Based on the CCA grading system, I view that you have actually
>         de-valued the equipment.  Of course, for one that wants a good
>         looking radio and one that works well then what you've done is
>         mostly positive.
>          
>         You asked and this is just my opinion.  And you can see my
>         station on QRZ.COM.
>          
>         Happy Holidays
>          
>         73
>         Bob, K4TAX
>          
>          
>                 ----- Original Message ----- 
>                 From: Carey Lockhart 
>                 To: Collins at mailman.qth.net 
>                 Sent: Sunday, December 14, 2008 2:08 PM
>                 Subject: [Collins] refurbished s line
>                 
>                 
>                 hello all, 
>                 
>                 
>                 now that i have finished i ask this question. i traded
>                 for a s line that was not in very good shape. so i
>                 started the process of fixing them back up. there
>                 where many things i have done including 
>                 
>                 
>                 - removing mods and patches
>                 - i repainted the cabinets with the paint from surplus
>                 sales of nebraska
>                 - replaced the non collins feet with the feet from
>                 advanced optics limited
>                 - also had 3 knobs that where not original, replaced
>                 them with the pointer knobs from           advanced
>                 optics limited
>                 - touched up all the pointers on the knobs with bright
>                 white paint
>                 - repainted the model numbers on both dial escutcheons
>                 - re-caped the 75s-1 32s-1 and the 516f-2 with the
>                 kits that ke9pq offers on ebay 
>                 - replaced the rca jacks on the rear that had been
>                 replaced with wrong type picked up originals from
>                 surplus parts of nebraska
>                 - changed the incandescent bulbs out to my white
>                 frosted LED bulbs that i offer on ebay.
>                 - changed main pto knobs back to non spinner
>                 - touched up alignment on both tx and rx.
>                 
>                 
>                 still need to change the inlays, tx meter and all
>                 tubes. so after all of this my question is did i do to
>                 the value of my s line. the operational performance
>                 100 % better than when i had received the
>                 gear. cosmetics is about 75% or more better. so i am
>                 wondering what sacrifice s did i make on the collector
>                 and resale value of my gear.  i took my time and did
>                 everything neat as i could. all opinions and comments
>                 welcomed.
>                 
>                 Carey Lockhart, KC5GTT
>                 kc5gtt at gmail.com
>                 www.kc5gtt.com
>                 
>                 

-- 
73, Jerry, K0CQ, Technical Advisor to the CRA
All content copyright Dr. Gerald N. Johnson, electrical engineer