[Hallicrafters] Fw: [Hammarlund] cleaning tube pins

[Rocco Lardiere]

This applies to Hallicrafters, too, of course.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rocco Lardiere" <lardiere at ix.netcom.com>
To: "Glen Zook" <gzook at yahoo.com>; <hammarlund at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, February 17, 2005 1:42 PM
Subject: Re: [Hammarlund] cleaning tube pins


> Glen,
>
> Yourr recommendations are very valuable.  Over the years, I have learned
to
> do the following with regards to tubes when I first take a look at a new
> boatanchor:
>
> Remove the tubes and check that the correct tube type is in the correct
> socket (and no cheap brands installed)
>
> Straighten the pins on the tubes using my Antique Radio pin straightener
>
> Clean the tube socket areas to get rid of dust and dirt
>
> Spray the pins with DeOxit
>
> Insert/pull the tubes several times in the sockets to provide a wiping
> action with the DeOxit
>
> After the radio is more or less operational, I perform a wiggle test to
> check for any remaining intermittent pin/socket connections.  I do this
with
> leather gloves to spare my fingers from the heat and am very careful
around
> possible high voltages (I don't do this with external anode tubes, of
> course.)
>
> For receivers, wiggling/rocking the tubes gently should not result in
> serious noise at the output.
>
> If, after an alignment, the performance is not up to par, I replace
suspect
> tubes with known good ones as needed.  I have a good tube tester but
rarely
> use it.  All new tubes get the same DeOxit treatment on the pins unless
they
> are absolutely clean and corrosion free.
>
> I really think that this saves a lot of time tracking down suspect gain
and
> noise problems, and it's easy to do.  In most cases, an older radio will
> immediately show improvement by going through these simple steps, as I am
> sure you know from your own experience.  I would never try an alignment
> until all tubes, pins, and sockets (and other electromechanical connection
> points) have been thoroughly cleaned and checked.
>
> 73,
>
> Rocco N6KN
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Glen Zook" <gzook at yahoo.com>
> To: <hammarlund at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Thursday, February 17, 2005 5:25 AM
> Subject: [Hammarlund] Possible problem source
>
>
> > . . .
> > 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
> >
> >
>