[Hallicrafters] Hallicrafters repair

[Joe Connor]

Yes, the RF deck of an SX-28/SX-28a is difficult, but is it much more difficult than the RF deck of a Hammarlund SP-200/BC-779 or the RF deck of a Hammarlund SP-600? How about the under-the-chassis RF boxes on a BC-342?

I'm sure that design and construction imperatives required them to be built like this. At least we have a lot of Internet articles to give us step-by-step instructions on how to remove and rebuild these decks and boxes. Can you imagine running a one-man radio shop in 1945 and having a customer bring in an SX-28 with a shorted cap in the RF deck?

From working on early Hallicrafters sets, I have developed a deep and abiding affection for needle-nose pliers, long thin soldering irons and hemostats! 


                       Joe Connor





>________________________________
> From: Mike Everette <radiocompass at yahoo.com>
>To: Joe Balestrini <jbalestrini at surewest.net>; Hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net; hallicrafterssr2000 at k9axn.com; Richard Knoppow <1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com> 
>Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2013 9:16 PM
>Subject: [Hallicrafters] Hallicrafters repair
> 
>I wrote:
>
>> Hmm, I do have to wonder why Halligan & Co. felt as
>> if they had to make their receivers so hard to work on.
>> Maybe the intent was that they would not be repaired, past a
>> certain point... merely, REPLACED.  With another Halli,
>> of course....
>> > 
>> > 73
>> > 
>> > Mike
>> > W4DSE
>> > 
>
>Richard observed:
>
>>     Not all of their receivers are that hard to
>> work on 
>
>No, not all... but I have restored several different Halli receivers, and my observations come from experience.
>
>The SX-28 is a bear, especially in the front end.  (been there, done that)  I dunno how it was done back in the Pleistocene era of huge soldering irons and blacksmith-style tools; but I'm sure some guys did it.
>
>The SX-24 and SX-25 have some components in the front end which take a LOT of thinking and planning, before heating up the iron to remove them; and even then they seem beyond the ken of many would-be repairers.  Even the lowly S-22R has this problem.
>
>Ever seen an early-run SX-23?  I have to wonder how to get into it... (dynamite comes to mind) let alone repair it.  (The second-run version is easier.)
>
>I wouldn't touch an SX-42.  Most of the ones I've seen have serious band switch issues (burned wafers and/or contacts mainly).  Some guys can get them apart, but I'll beg off.  Indeed, some time ago I knew one guy (now SK) who bought his SX-42 new -- he even had the accessory base for it -- and after the switch fried, waited over 30 years before someone finally was able to fix it for him.  During the 30-year interim he said he was pretty much QRT, at least till 2 meter FM came along.  Could not afford to replace the receiver, or maybe his wife gave him grief over it; not sure which.  Sad tale, to be sure.
>
>Never worked on an SX-62, but my understanding is that they have pretty much the same issues.
>
>Restringing some of the dials is a something that rhymes with witch... the SX-71 comes to mind.
>
>The problem most likely comes from the assembly methods used.  The radios were probably built in sections or layers, or in stages.  And, I seriously doubt that much thought was given to methods of disassembly for repair.  This is why I say, I don't think some of them were meant to be repaired.
>
>By comparison, Hammarlund and especially National receivers are very easy to work on.
>
>Halli isn't the only maker guilty of this, though.
>
>My opinion, for what it's worth; and you're free to disagree.
>
>73
>
>Mike
>W4DSE
>
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