[Hammarlund] SP-600 alignment problems

[Bob Young]

I'm trying to align the 455 khz IF and am following the instructions in the 
SP-600JX manual, my radio is a JX-26. The phasing control seemed a little 
off (the nulls weren't 180 degrees apart) but the radio sounded and 
performed well otherwise. I decided to undertake alignment which seemed 
simple enough, I have a URM-25F RF generator and a HP-410B VTM so I figured 
I had decent equipment for the job. The problem I am having is finding the 
resonant frequency of the 455 khz crystal. The manual says to put the 
bandwidth to .2 khz and find peak output with the meter on the speaker 
output. I have the controls set the way the manual says to but the peak 
keeps moving from below to 455 to above (I've gone from 454.4 to 455.7.) 
Right now band #1 is high by 20 khz ex. WBZ 1030 is now on 1050 and all 
bands are off. Also the audio is lousy and distorted, obviously I've knocked 
it way out of alignment but can't figure out what the problem is, although 
I'm sure it's linked to not being able to find the correct "signal frequency 
by the 455 kc crystal" I have gone through the whole procedure now at least 
5-6 times since last night, 455.35 has seemed like it was the correct one as 
it's peaked on this frequncy several times but the dial is still off, lousy 
audio etc. I have also set the 3.955 second conversion frequency several 
times, I'm ready to pull my hair out, does anyone have any idea why i can't 
find this crystal frequency or other ideas of what the problem could be? 
thanks
Incidently this radio was restored by a pro recently so obviously I should 
have left well enough alone.

Bob Young
Millbury, Ma