[Hallicrafters] SX-101 Tech Tips

Fri Nov 5 18:34:50 EDT 2010

Here are some of the thousand or so technical tips that I have stored in a 
directory over the past twelve years. I hope they help someone out there.

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From: "Phil Atchley" <ko6bb at elite.net>
To: <hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [Hallicrafters] SX-101A selectivity
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Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2002 20:34:47 -0000
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> That's typically true, Fred.  The smaller value (and size) caps are
usually
> ceramic or mica and don't deteriorate like the larger ones.  The larger
> value and size ones are paper caps.  They're tubular in shape are often
> "black beauties", which are black with the capacitance color-coded on
them,
> or "Tiny Chief" or other brands.  After 40 or 50 years they become more
like
> resistors than caps.
>
> Usually you can leave the smaller caps in with no ill effects.

This is 'usually' true but not always the case.  Some older silver mica caps
suffer from silver 'migration' and can turn leaky or change value.  Also, it
is not totally uncommon for the internal connections to some of the plates
to open up, thus decreasing the overall value of the capacitor.  I have seen
that in the RF section of a couple R-390A receivers that I overhauled.  When
the mica capacitors went bad the set just WOULD NOT align properly with the
result that the tuning slugs had to be tuned in too far (to compensate) and
tracking of all the slug racks suffered.  Think I also saw it in a
Hammarlund SP-600 receiver tuning turrent once.  And all the above named
gear is "Mil spec"

73 de Phil  KO6BB
Loving home provided for wayward Boatanchor Receivers
ko6bb at elite.net
Merced, Central California
37.18N 120.29W CM97sh

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Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2001 22:53:58 -0500
To: stevem <wb9tow at egr.msu.edu>, <hallicrafters at qth.net>
From: Larry Goodrich <w9htk at iquest.net>
Subject: Re: [Hallicrafters] sx101mkII prob solved
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Steve  -  You decided correctly.  Thanx very much.  Item 4 below.

What is stable?  Did you check the freq or just the level of the output?
Actually if I understand the trouble you had, the level is of secondary
importance.
The freq is the primary source of your trouble.  As long as it works
now.......  Larry W9HTK

At 08:47 PM 8/20/01 -0400, stevem wrote:
>I decided to post this to the entire net.
>Here is what I did:
>
>
>1) replaced the 12BY7
>
>2) cleaned all sockets, tube pins and band swiches with deoxit
>
>3) cleaned the main tuning cap, including the the grounding contacts
>on each section of the rotor.
>
>4) I watched the osc output and the BFO output on a scope. They are stable.
>
>5) took voltage reading s on 12BY7, 6BA6 and 12AT7...they were within
>specs.
>
>************************************************************
>
>
>
>I left the rig on for about 10 hours. The rx is stable on all bands, no
>shift in freq and works fb. I appreciate all the email rx on the problem.
>
>vri 73 steve

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Subject: RE: [Hallicrafters] Who Made The Replacement Knobs?
Date: Thu, 19 May 2005 15:32:30 -0500
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Hello Duane,

I have reproduction knobs for the SX-101/101A. I had 50 made and have 16
left if you have any interest. I can provide photos.

Regards,
Mike KL7CD

-----Original Message-----
From: hallicrafters-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:hallicrafters-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Duane B.
Fischer, W8DBF
Sent: Saturday, May 14, 2005 4:09 PM
To: hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Hallicrafters] Who Made The Replacement Knobs?

Hello All,

Perhaps one of you can tell me who it was that was making and selling
certain
replacement knobs for Hallicrafters and other brands of Ham and GC
receivers,
transmitters and transceivers? Please provide the persons name and
contact info.

If you have it, or can get it, a copy of their original post would be
very much
appreciated.

Thank you very much.

Duane W8DBF
dfischer at usol.com

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   "hallicrafters" <hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net>
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Subject: Re: [Hallicrafters] sx101 mkiii s meter
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Jack,

The meter should be as "active" on the 101 as on the 111, more or less.  The
way to tell for sure is to put a calibrated signal into it with a good
generator; generally, you should be able to see S9 with 50 microvolts.  The
alignment instructions for my 101 A call for adjusting R26 for S9 on 20 M at
2 kHz selectivity with a 50 microvolt input, and it will easily meet this
spec.  Can't remember if the 101 Mk III is the same, but you get the idea.
Actually having a calibrated 50 microvolt input is another thing, of course.
Good RF generators that can be trusted are very nice to have in a case like
this one.  Have you aligned the 101?  If you recapped and put it new tubes,
chances are that you need to go the the complete alignment per the book.
Both tubes and caps will affect alignment.  If  you have already realigned
it, you may need to compare stage gains with another 101 or by analysis.  If
gain is low on all bands, suspect the common circuitry.  Also - you can try
gently wiggling tubes and switches (after cleaning the latter).  Sometimes
there is a flakey tube socket or other electromechanical connection that is
a bit intermittent.  If I am otherwise stumped, I sometimes gently flex the
entire chassis of a receiver by balancing it on one corner and twisting a
bit while observing the S Meter using a signal generator.  It's surprising
how often there's an intermittent ground or something that shows up that
way.  Needless to say, safety first when you do something like that!  Good
luck with it.

73,

Rocco N6KN

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jack Schrader" <w1jhs at midmaine.com>
To: "hallicrafters" <hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2003 9:04 AM
Subject: [Hallicrafters] sx101 mkiii s meter

Hi to the list....I have re-capped my 101 and it works much better but the s
meter is not very active. Yes it does move but it is not nearly as active as
when the same antenna is connected to my sx111. I have done the adjustment
per the manual. All tubes have been checked and are within specs.

Any other ideas from anyone !

73 Jack w1jhs