[Hallicrafters] Cooked something...

[Craig Roberts]

DA, your proposed method of cap replacement is sure to spark another 
discussion.  First off (and these are MY opinions only), a wholesale 
replacment of all the paper caps in a radio that old is a very GOOD 
idea.  If you're going to substitute one modern cap for an old one, why 
not all of them and prevent future failures?  (And don't forget to 
replace the electrolytics).

The practice of "splicing in" caps has the advantages of convenience and 
time-saving and -- some argue -- helps prevent damage to solder lugs, 
tube sockets and adjacent components.  It also, as you intimate, helps 
prevent wiring errors.

I prefer, however, to remove the old components completely whenever 
possible -- especially in older radios with big, heavy contact points.  
Beefy lugs reduce the possibility of damage in desoldering and 
resoldering, so there's little to risk.  Also, it's not unusual to find 
cold or deteriorated solder joints in old radios.  The factory workers 
-- especially in some brands -- were not as skilled or thorough as we 
might hope and age and corrosion take their toll, too.  Stripping out 
the old compnents completely and cleaning the lugs/contacts assures a 
trouble-free rebuild.  I consider the extra time this method takes to be 
an advantage rather than an inconvenience.  It slows your pace, making 
the job less stressful and more enjoyable.  It also allows time to find 
otherwise hidden problems.  In one radio I just finished, I found an 
open connection and a short circuit, probably from old "repairs", buried 
in the bowels of the chassis that I probably would have missed had I 
been hurredly cutting and splicing.  Doing the job one lead at a time 
prevents wiring errors.  Taking detailed digital photos of the "before" 
chassis is a great help, too.

Besides, the method I prefer looks so neat and pretty when you're 
finished.  I'm convinced that electrons flow more freely when they don't 
have to jump through extra solder joints :-) .

73.

Craig
W3CRR

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