[Hallicrafters] SX-28A Restoration Question

[Mike Everette]

Mark,

I think you are asking for it, big time, if you try to
replace the sockets. You're going to be sticking a
drill into some extremely close quarters.  Lots of
chance for damaging the radio and for making a bunch
of wiring errors.  If you have started recapping, you
know how tough it is to work with the solder joints in
these receivers; the solder has a very high melting
point and the wiring insulation can be quite brittle. 
Plus, there is very little slack in the wiring.  If
you haven't been there yet, you're going to find out
real soon.

Try this:

At an automotive store, find a penetrating oil called
"PB Blaster."  It's an aerosol type.

Push a cotton swab against the hole in the spray head
and GENTLY soak the swab.  Then, push the wet swab
against the rivets and against the chassis adjacent to
them.  Allow the oil to soak into the riveted joint. 
This is very "fine" oil and it will do this.

If you wet down the metal rings on the sockets --
note, DO NOT "hose" them!  Do this with a swab! -- and
then let it set up a while, you might be able to
remove some or perhaps all the visible rust with a
typewriter eraser or an abrasive (sanding) stick.

The PB Blaster will penetrate the joints and break up
the corrsion that may lurk there.  You may want to do
this a couple of times.  Then after everything has set
up for a day or two, go back in with an aerosol
equipment degreaser or even an organic solder flux
remover, and re-soak the joints to get the residue
out.

DO NOT allow the PB Blaster to get into a coil or an
IF can.  DO NOT DO NOT let it get on a dial.  I am not
sure what would happen in either case, and I don't
want to go there to find out.  However, this stuff is
a super corrosion buster, and also is great to use for
cleaning up an oxidized chassis, when followed by a
product called Never-Dull, a cotton polishing-wadding
with some kind of chemical in it.  

BEWARE, the PB Blaster is very strong stuff and should
be used with plenty of ventilation.  It's flammable
too.  Watch out.

Liquid Wrench might be just as good, but I know PB
Blaster will git-er-done.  Just BE CAREFUL with it.

73

Mike
WA4DLF




	
		
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