[EICO] Eico 723 Low Grid Drive

[Carl Strode]

My Eico 723 has low grid drive only on 15 meters.
Plenty of drive on 80, 40, 20 and 10.

On 15, the max drive is only about 1.5 ma.

If I hook up the 722 VFO, the drive is even less.

I have not checked the 722 VFO yet, but since with any xtal, and even
with the VFO the 15-meter grid drive is low, I am leaping to the
conclusion that the 723 has a problem.
The part that bugs me is that the drive on 10 seems to be great, only
low on 15.

I have not operated a 723 for over 25 years, and cannot recall how my
original novice rig behaved.  I don't think I ever even saw a manual
until recently.

The 723 I now have puts out from 30 to 40 watts depending upon the band
which seems to be about right for the rated input.

Of course it chirps, with the chirp getting progressively worse from 80
to 10.  15 seems to be the worst.

Any suggestions?
Please help.

Also, when trying to neutralize the rig in accordance with the manual,
adjustment of the neutralizing capacitor does not seem to have much, if
any impact.  When watching the grid drive level on 20 meters and then
adjusting the plate tuning, on the very slightest movement of the meter
is noted, regardless of where the cap is set.  I have set it as best I
can to a place that has the smallest of twitches, as opposed to a
slightly larger "twitch".

Carl WA7CS
Pasco, WA

wa7cs@arrl.net