[Hallicrafters] S20R

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On 12/5/05, Kenneth G. Gordon <kgordon at moscow.com> wrote:
> > Hello
> > I evidently have gotten in over my head with my S20R.  I replaced all the caps
> > with orange drops.  Nothings burning or blowing up when I turn it on but it is
> > not going.  Had the speaker reconed bought new tubes.  new dials.  But have
> > decided I can't finish this.

> Geez, Greg, don't give up now! You've got all the hard work done!
>
> Get out your Radio Shack DVM and start measuring voltages. Start with
> the power supply and work to the other stages. There should be a
> voltage chart in the manual that shows what normal voltages should be
> at each stage.
>
> Make a chart. Fill it out. Then think about what is wrong.

Ken is absolutely right, don't give up - especially after so much work
and expense. I have a really clean S-40B that is a result of a similar
scenario, the fellow decided to shotgun the caps and resistors and
introduced a problem in the process (this is why it's always best to
work one stage/circuit at a time, then check your work). He got
frustrated and sold it to me and I took it not because I wanted it,
but because he was going to take a hammer to it! It will be a loaner
radio if I can ever find time to get back to it.

Do as Ken says, also recheck your work. It's very easy to hook a cap
to the wrong terminal, run something to ground, etc. rendering the
radio 'dead'. I've seen things from a tube in the wrong socket to a
tube with broken keyway inserted wrong (metal tube, too - sure did
zing me) to caps or resistors soldered to the wrong point. If all else
fails, start with the power supply and move forward tracing through
each circuit. You'll probably find something simple, maybe even a tube
lighting that isn't actually working.

Most all of us have done it at one time or another. It's part of the
'fun', and you become a whole lot wiser as a result.

de Todd/'Boomer'  KA1KAQ