[Hallicrafters] Cleaning an SX-28

[Mike Everette]

--- john <johnmb at nc.rr.com> wrote:

> All of this blasting, spraying  and hosing 
> convinces me, that many more 
> radios are destroyed by "restoring" than by
> neglect....
> 
> John K5MO
>

I could not agree more!

There is no substitute for several things:

1.  ELBOW GREASE

2.  PATIENCE

3.  SKILL

The first thing is easy to get.  The next two take
time, and the third is begat by the second.

There is no "quick fix," no "instant gratification" in
this business.  Trying to get such will result in many
more otherwise fine radios ending up being parted out
on eBay by people who got in over their heads.

In my opinion, water should NEVER be used to "clean" a
radio.  What are you thinking?  Water penetrates
insulation.  Moisture destroys components like tubular
ceramic capacitors, carbon resistors... not to mention
power transformers and other "iron."  Moisture seeps
into porous switches, coil forms, and wiring
harnesses.  Where do you think all that rust came
from?  MOISTURE.  And you're going to put MORE
moisture in there, to "clean" it?  

In my opinion: Tres-stupid.

The proper way to clean a radio -- it sure works for
me -- is to use air or a vacuum to get the dirt out;
then CLEAN by scrubbing it with cotton swabs and
penetrating oil.  The oil removes corrosion and
polishes at the same time.  It woll also break up
surface rust, to a degree.  You might have to use a
wire brush to get rid of all of the rust.  DO NOT use
steel wool on a chassis.  That stuff will disintegrate
and leave tiny fibers all over the radio, so that when
you power it up, Snap-Crackle-Pop --  Sizzle!  Yes,
all this is HARD WORK.  It takes TIME.  

And be aware, that many times a "restoration" is
actually a "rebuild."  Work one component at a time. 
Make lots of notes, draw lots of pictures.  Check your
work twice, before and after you replace a part.

BE WARNED:  If you haven't ever restored a radio
before, you really have no business starting out with
an SX-28, or even worse, an SX-42.  They are not easy.
 I seriously doubt that they were ever intended to be
repaired beyond a very basic level.  But they CAN be
done, IF you have the patience and skill.

And for heaven's sake -- DO NOT EVER try to clean a
dial with water or any other kind of liquid!  You WILL
be sorry.  

If you don't have patience and skill at "SX-28 level,"
then go find an S-20R or S-40 or SX-99 and do that
first.  If you are really new to this, get an
acey-deucey All American Five and do that before the
S-20R, S-40 or SX-99.  If you aren't wanting to do
these things, I'll offer to buy your SX-28 before you
make a mess of it.

73

Mike
WA4DLF



       
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