[Hallicrafters] SX-71 restoration and cabinet finishing

[Phil Atchley]

Hello all
Today the latest "project" arrived via the big brown toy truck.  A quick
inspection showed that this set is indeed probably going to be the greatest
restoration project I've undertaken as there is quite a bit of rust on the
cabinet lid and some spots on the chassis as well as all tube shields etc.
Top of the front panel also has numerous small rust "bumps".

After the preliminary inspection I slowly brought it up.  The set was
supposedly operational.  It was, I could hear the nearby local BCB stations.
Quite poor sensitivity  but at least no smoke boiled out of it.

After removing it from the cabinet a quick check with the Ohmmeter showed at
least 75% of the resistors WAY out of tolerance on the high side.  Some were
more that twice the resistance they should be (like the 330K that reads
680K, 39K that reads 70K etc).  Now, we all know that incircuit tests may
make a resistor read LOW in value, but never high.  So, first order of the
day is to do a 100% replacement of all resistors (except the wirewound).
This is something I usually never do, replacing only those that are actually
out of tolerance.  But in this case I think it's warranted.

The next order will be to replace all paper capacitors and the 'lytics.  The
paper caps will have to wait until the ones I have ordered from Lloyd Godsey
arrive.  I have already bought the 'lytics (over a month ago).  Speaking of
capacitors, the Micamold that went from one side of the power line to the
chassis had blown apart and had it's guts hanging out.  Turned out to be a
paper capacitor in that square plastic case.  I suspect a power line surge
may have hit the set and traveled from the powerline to the station ground
(assuming the set was grounded.)

The final steps will be the cabinet restoration and this is where my
questions come in.

The lift up lid is a light rust brown (not deep) all over.  Looking at the
underside it appears this was originally either grey or silver.  Will it
clean up all the little vent holes in the lid too?

Questions:
1.  I will probably have to get the top bead blasted to clean it up proper.
Never having done that before, where does one go to get it done and what is
the typical price?

2.  What color was this top originally, grey or silver grey etc?  I 'may' be
able to get this cabinet done at an auto body shop where a friend of mine
does some part time work and has had his cabinets done.  Kind of a you
scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.  (Budget here for this project is
very minimal).

3.  On the 2nd LO assembly, there are two coils.  One has a brass screw for
the slug sticking up.  The other one looks like it 'should' have an
adjustment screw but doesn't.  Is this normal.

73 de Phil  KO6BB

* * DXing with * *
RadioShack DX-398 (2002),  Realistic DX-160 (1978)
Hallicrafters 5R10A (1953),  Rycom 3131 FSV (1969)
Antennas: 20 meter long sloper & Hustler 6BTV Vertical




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