[Fwd: Re: [Hallicrafters] SX 42 NEED HELP]

[Craig Roberts]

Hi Rick,

>
> When I was 15 years old (almost 45 years ago), my Dad gave me a 
> somewhat battered SX-42 as a birthday gift.  It was my first "real" 
> radio and led ultimately to my lifelong pursuit of amateur radio.  I 
> sold that old radio many, many years ago -- an act I began to regret 
> recently.
>
> Early this year, I bought a barely functional but complete SX-42 from 
> an eBay seller and spent the next two months restoring it.  In the 
> end, I replaced nearly every cap and resistor in the set.  The job was 
> a little tedious at times, but not really difficult and the end result 
> was well worth the effort.  I now have a beautiful looking and 
> sounding radio that is a pure delight to listen to.
>
> Here are my general hints:
>
> Replace components in one section at a time beginning -- as I did -- 
> with the power supply and audio output circuits.  Each section can be 
> accomplished in two or three evenings and tested as you go (that's why 
> it's important to do the power supply and audio sections first -- 
> they're the ones in which bad components can cause damage).
>
> Use Solder-Wick or a similar solder removal product and strip each 
> component completely from its lug or socket pin -- one lead at a time. 
> There are a handful of places where this is not feasible, but not 
> many.  Complete component removal assures good connections and a much 
> neater and more aesthetically pleasing job.  The contacts and socket 
> pins in this radio are large and rugged so, with reasonable care, 
> there's not much chance of damaging them.  A somewhat hefty soldering 
> iron (by today's standards) is necessary for good desoldering and 
> soldering. I use a constantly cleaned 50 W American Beauty iron.  It 
> makes the operation easy.
>
> Take your time.  There's no rush.  After all, the radio's been around 
> since 1947 or so. When you get tired or frustated, quit for the 
> session. This should be fun, not drudgery.
>
> Clean the tube sockets thoroughly. I use little interdental brushes 
> (from the toothpaste section of your drugstore) and De-Oxit to scrub 
> out the socket pins.  The same tool and chemical can be used to clean 
> switch contacts.  As Roy Morgan suggested, do NOT simply spray the 
> bandswitch wafers with contact cleaner. The mediocre quality phenolic 
> used in the switch can soak up the chemical and swell, causing great 
> unpleasantness.
>
> If you need high resolution schematics and manuals, I've posted the 
> Hallicrafters and Sams Photofact versions on my website:
>
> www.aerialacts.com/Halli_SX42_manual.pdf
> www.aerialacts.com/SX42_schem.pdf
> www.aerialacts.com/SAMS_SX42_hires.pdf
> www.aerialacts.com/SAMS_SX42_schem_hires.pdf
>
> If these prove too large to download, let me know and I'll send you a 
> CD of them.
>
> Best of luck. It's a wonderful radio.
>
> 73,
>
> Craig
> W3CRR
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