[Hammarlund] Hammarlund HQ-140X...the saga continues

[C Eus]

All:
I just finished putting the panel and the knobs back on the rx after giving the chassis a reasonable good wipe down and cleaning. There was the usual surface grime and probably 'leakage" from that cigar smoke coming into the cabinet. Needless to say, the chassis is slightly cleaner. The bottom looked o.k. so I didn't fuss with that other than putting WD-40 on the bandswitch detent and spraying Deoxit on the contacts of all switches and controls. 
 
I did end up putting the panel back on after finding some thick new control washers.  I also cleaned off the S-meter and the dial escutches. Needless to say, the purple power cleaner and Meguiar's treatment on the panel made the front look like new again! I will probably have to get some White Out to fill the areas where the purple cleaner took out the white on the knobs but that's elementary. Finally, there is that back panel problem with the SO-239 "butcher job." I plan on getting a piece of small guage plate steel and cutting out a piece to cover that area to present a somewhat sanitary look. Besides, the manual specifically points out that the input to the 140-X antenna is 400 ohms. Somehow simply putting a 50 ohm connector and antenna will (I suspect) attenuate the sensitivity of the 140. So, I'm going to follow Glen Zook's suggestion of installing an external cable t.v. balun (which is about 4:1) and use the necessary RF adaptors to use on ham radio. 
 
I was tempted yesterday with turning the rx back on but I resisted the attempt because I need to put that surge protecting device and three wire cord into the 140. 
 
Whatever the case, she's looking good!!! If anyone wants free pictures to see my progress, you'll see what I mean. The before and after shots are dramatic. 
 
73 de Cal, N6KYR/8

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