[Hammarlund] HQ-180AC Restoration Questions
JM/CO
[email protected]
Fri, 4 Oct 2002 15:35:30 -0400
Hello-
These radios frequently suffer from dirty contacts on the main band
selector. Clean with your favorite cleaning goop, and this problem will
probably go away. A drop of any lube oil ( 3-in-one, SAE 20 etc ) on the
spring contacts of the variable caps will make them very happy. Don't forget
the front bearing and rear pivot point. Also, while you are in there, put a
drop on the antenna trimmer cap, and ANYTHING else that moves. This was done
when your radio was manufactured, but it's probably all gone by now. All
electronic gear of boat anchor vintage was very mechanical, and machines
always benefit from a prudent application of oil from time to time.
The electrolytic can be replaced by individual capacitors or, you can have
the original rebuilt with new innards. Electrically, the result will be the
same.
Chuck N1LNH
----- Original Message -----
From: "N.J. Scan" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, October 04, 2002 1:35 PM
Subject: [Hammarlund] HQ-180AC Restoration Questions
> 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
>
>
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