[Hammarlund] HQ-140X questiom

Sun Oct 9 16:04:52 EDT 2011

HI again Dan! (and list),

     Yeah, I forgot to mention that there is usually a specific 
mechanical spot where the main tuning cap and the bandspread cap are 
supposed to be indexed to make the radio oscillator "track".  I do not 
have a service manual for the HQ-140, or I would look for you.  But I do 
know that the 170/180 does indeed call out that mechanical alignment and 
location and if'n you don't put them where they belong to begin with, 
you WILL be "chasing your tail" for a LOOOONG time.  It's truly amazing 
how much a little bit of extra "C" at the bottom of the band can screw 
up the "L" and therefore the tracking of the dial.  Too little "C" will 
do the same thing.  Even if the HFO is on the right side of the IF.  In 
fact, in most Hammarlunds, if the HFO is on the wrong side of the IF, 
the receiver becomes deaf as a post.  Carl's suggestion of checking the 
tracking of the broadcast band is spot on.  If the BC band tracks, then 
you need to play with the trimmer/padders that I mentioned before.  Just 
make real sure the you have the bandspread cap parked where it's 
supposed to be when using the main tuning.  If you've got it on the 
wrong end, i.e., closed when it should be open all the way or visa 
versa, this beast won't track either.  Might pay to give the alignment 
procedure a careful reread and see if you missed something.  It may be 
something as simple as that.
> The only addition I have to Kim and Carl's excellent advice is to make sure the band spread (and general coverage) caps are properly indexed to the dial before starting.  I don't know if people remove the dials for cleaning or for other reason but I have often found dials that were not carefully reinstalled such that the capacitor mesh is not correct for the indicated dial position.
>
> Some models specify this clearly but in many cases the marked part of the dial covers just under 180 degrees of capacitor rotation.  Where the instructions don't specify I place the bandspread dial so that the "set" mark occurs when the BS capacitor just hits minimum mesh. For the main dial (again if not clearly specified) I set the dial where the low end mark occurs a hair before full mesh.  Of course if the dials are calibrated for exactly 180 degrees of capacitor movement then it is pretty clear.
>
> There is nothing quite like the joy of going through most of an alignment and then finding out the band spread cap wasn't properly indexed :(
>
> Rodger WQ9E
>
> -------- Original Message --------
>> From: "Carl"<km1h at jeremy.mv.com>
>> Sent: Sunday, October 09, 2011 9:47 AM
>> To: "Dan Cotsirilos"<k9dtc at comcast.net>,<Hammarlund at mailman.qth.net>
>> Subject: Re: [Hammarlund] HQ-140X questiom
>>
>> As Kim said plus thats also a good sign of having the oscillator on the
> wrong side. It must be 455kc above the signal on the 4 lower bands and 455kc
> below on the 2 highest bands. The BS dial must be set at 100. The manual is
> very specific about all this.
>
> The GC tuning cap must have its plates centered and this is adjustable.
> Often uninformed little fingers mess this up and then sell the radio. The BS
> cap is also adjustable.
>
> Band 1 is a perfect place to test linearity as there are often carriers
> available every 10kc, do it with the BFO properly aligned and turned on. If
> the tracking is excellent the GC cap is aligned.
>
> The above holds true with all Hammys from the HQ-120 foreward using those
> capacitors BUT the 160 uses double conversion and the oscillator is always
> on the high side.
>
> Carl
> KM1H
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dan Cotsirilos"<k9dtc at comcast.net>
> To:<Hammarlund at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Sunday, October 09, 2011 8:39 AM
> Subject: [Hammarlund] HQ-140X questiom
>
>
>> I just aliened shortwave bands on this radio. When the ends of each band
>> are right on the money the center is off about 100 kcs or more off. I can't
>> remember am I expecting too much for analog or..........?
>>
>>
>> Dan K9DTC
>>
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-- 
Kim Herron W8ZV
1-616-677-3706