[Hallicrafters] Possible problem source

[DW Holtman]

Glen,

What is Goddard's "Silver Dip" and do you know where it is available?

Thank You,
DW Holtman
WB7SSN
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Glen Zook" <gzook at yahoo.com>
To: <hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2005 10:24 PM
Subject: [Hallicrafters] Possible problem source


> Tonight my Heath SB-110A 6-meter rig developed a
> couple of problems.  First of all, I tightened all of
> the screws that hold the printed circuit boards to the
> chassis.  Then I took a paint brush and cleaned
> everything on top of the chassis.  Finally, before
> disconnecting the rig and taking it to the service
> bench I started unplugging and then plugging in again
> the tubes in the circuit "area" that the problem was
> occurring (the push to talk circuit was "hanging" for
> several seconds after releasing the microphone).
> 
> When I removed the 6AZ8 that controls the relay the
> unit returned to receive.  Of course I had to return
> the tube to its socket before the unit would operate
> again.  I "wiggled" the tube, I removed and replaced
> it, and so on.
> 
> Finally, I actually removed the tube, removed the tube
> shield, and took a good look at it.  Frankly, the tube
> pins had corroded over the years and just were not
> making a good connection to the socket.
> 
> Since I keep a jar of Goddard's "Silver Dip" around to
> clean various items (like coax connectors) I "dipped"
> the tube pins in the solution.  After a good rinse at
> the sink and a good dry with a towel I replaced the
> tube.  Problem solved!
> 
> I then checked the other tubes and all of their pins
> were showing various signs of corrosion.  Thus, I
> cleaned them one-at-a-time.  Of course most of the
> tubes in the SB-110A are actually original, and since
> the unit works perfectly, I haven't replaced a tube in
> years.  
> 
> I now plan on cleaning the tube pins, along with
> tightening all of the hardware that holds everything
> in place on any boat anchor that I work on that had
> intermittent problems.  In fact, I really think that
> it would be a good idea to actually clean all of the
> tube pins whenever I work on a unit for someone else.
> 
> Corrosion on tube pins is not something that you
> immediately think about when troubleshooting a "boat
> anchor".  But, it certainly can be a source of
> problems.  Often we clean the sockets as well as
> switches, potentiometers, and so forth.  However, how
> often do we think of cleaning the pins on the tubes?!!
> 
> Glen, K9STH
> 
> =====
> Glen, K9STH
> 
> Web sites
> 
> http://home.comcast.net/~k9sth
> http://home.comcast.net/~zcomco
> 
> 
> 
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