[Hallicrafters] SX-42 advice

[Richard Knoppow]

    FWIW, the caps with the braided leads were special low 
inductance paper caps. Modern plastic dielectric caps will have 
even lower inductance. I have replaced similar caps in other 
Hallicrafters receiers. I have seen discussion of how to get to 
them but don't remember where. Might be in the archives of this 
list.
     Distortion sounds like leaky coupling caps somewhere as does 
the erratic S-meter. Maybe a gassy tube.

On 3/12/2018 7:53 PM, Jeff wrote:
> Hi All -
> 
> I'm rebuilding a SX-42 for my father -- was his first receiver. 
> Making fine progress, but run into a couple of issues that no 
> doubt have been solved by someone.
> 
> First, is there any way to replace the wax paper caps that live 
> underneath the bandswitch - that appear to have braid for leads 
> -- WITHOUT removing the bandswitch?  I've gotten all of them 
> except for the two that I can see.
> 
> Second, it's deaf as a post at the moment.  Resistor and 
> capacitor replacement are making a difference each time I test my 
> work, but still very poor.  But the real issue is terrible 
> distortion on signals using the BFO -- not present in AM.   The 
> S-meter also behaves erratically as well -- going to try another 
> 7A4.
> 
> Any advice on tracking down the BFO fault -- or any special tools 
> or skills on those buried capacitors?
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Jeff
> 
> WB3JIH

-- 
Richard Knoppow
1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
WB6KBL