[Hammarlund] HQ-180AC Restoration Questions

[N.J. Scan]

Greetings to all here on the Hammarlund reflector. While I�m new to this group, my radio roots go back to the early 1960�s. In 1966 I saved for months and purchased my Hammarlund HQ-180AC with the matching speaker. It�s been the most faithful piece of radio equipment I�ve owned and continues to perform till this day. Recently it developed one problem where the 4-7 mhz band went deaf. More on that in a bit. I still have the original documentation and carton! Mechanically it'� pristine with just one minor scratch on the top of the cabinet. The front panel doesn't even have any of the wear marks from repeated finger contact.

Recently I decided it�s time to give it a once over and I�m now presented with the task of finding some components that were once off the shelf items at Lafayette Radio! I have a few questions that I�m hoping some of you might be able to provide some suggestions.

 I�m now noticing that there is a slight hum on the audio and I suspect the original Sprague filter cap is moaning to be replaced. I�m discovering that they don�t make these any longer. I did find one person who would rebuild the original, inserting three discrete caps within the original can. Can anyone suggest any sources for these? What�s the standard attack plan to this dilema?
 As previously mentioned, the 4.xx � 7.85 Mhz band suddenly went dead. I discovered that I restore the signal if I connected the antenna directly to one of the RF coils so it might just be a dirty gang switch. This weekends project is to clean the switch up with Deoxit. This stuff seems to do a nice job. In the event that one of these coils is �open�, does anyone have an HQ-180 that they are selling off piece by piece?
 The two main variable caps are in very good shape, though using them certainly produces a good bit of static. I�ve blown all the dust out of the receiver and I notice that there several brass spring fingers that ride against the copper stator of the capacitors. These had some sort of grease which has long dried up. Was this grease conductive? I suspect it was these to prevent corrosion and the associated metal to metal noise it would create. After cleaning the shaft and spring finger what type of grease is recommended?

So aside from these issues it now looks brand new and I�m planning on posting some photos of it on the web. From what I�ve seen, it�s in far better shape than most HQ-180�s and mine has the original clock!
Are there any weekly nets on either 20 or 40 meters for Hammarlund collectors?
All suggestions would be very much appreciated.
Best Regards

Bob, WA2SQQ
Elmwood Park, NJ


____________________________________________________________
Tired of all the SPAM in your inbox? Switch to LYCOS MAIL PLUS
http://www.mail.lycos.com/brandPage.shtml?pageId=plus