[Hallicrafters] SX-62 Run 2 overhaul

[K6jek at aol.com]

I see that you're getting a lot of good advice.  Everyone who fixes one of 
these up wants to keep it.  Here are some things I remember from the extensive 
overhaul I did on the basket case SX-62 I resurrected.  Like everyone else, I 
discovered that almost all of the resisters were way out of value.  I think I 
ended up changing all of them, or at least 99%.  This radio is cramped.  I lost 
my emotional attachment to orange drops with this radio.  Orange drops are 
big.  You'll be happier if you use some other good, modern caps.  The run 2 did 
not have a fuse.  Put one in.  I glued a holder in an inconspicuous place.  
One of the common failures on these radios is audio transformer primary shorts 
to ground.  Yes, that's B+ to ground.  That's a fine time to have a fuse.  Mine 
also had an AC mains short to ground.  That's a fine time to have a fuse and 
a grounded power cord. There are some weird caps in RF section with braided 
leads.  Someone on this reflector explained them to me.  I'll be darned if I can 
remember the explanation but those braids aren't accidental.  Those caps I 
left in.  There are wax sealed variable inductors.  It is a pain in neck to 
safely get the wax out.  Most who have done it have discovered that these don't 
need to be readjusted.  I would not melt out that wax unless and until you 
decide that your really need to tweak those lugs. On some of the more elaborate 
stages, one at a time replacement of caps and resisters won't work.  You just 
have to remove a bunch of stuff and build it back up.  I highly recommend drawing 
those areas before you jump in and pull it all apart.  I found the drawings I 
made valuable.  

On the West Coast AMI net, a recent topic of discussion was "What's your 
favorite receiver."  I think the 75A-4 got the most votes but the SX-62 got mine.  
It's just gorgeous and sounds absolutely terrific.  When I'm not listening to 
K06NM or other fabulous sounding West Coast AMers on my 62 I have it on FM.  
Nothing else in my shack sees as much on time as the 62.  Working on it is 
worth the effort.

Jon, K6JEK