[Hammarlund] HQ-180 sounding right?

[D C _Mac_ Macdonald]

I'm assuming that the 180 is a general coverage equivalent to the 170 with the HC-10 SSB Converter built in. 
 
If so, I believe your problem is a non-functioning AGC system. 
  
* * * * * * * * * * * 
* 73 - Mac, K2GKK/5 * 
* (Since 30 Nov 53) * 
* k2gkk hotmail com * 
* Oklahoma City, OK * 
* USAF & FAA (Ret.) * 
* * * * * * * * * * * 
 

> Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 18:51:54 -0600
> From: rsauvan at beyondbb.com
> To: hammarlund at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [Hammarlund] HQ-180 sounding right?
> 
> Hi all,
> I have been working on my HQ-180 over the last couple of weeks. I did an 
> alignment on it and it seems to be working and tracking frequencies just 
> fine. But, I am questioning somewhat if it is really working right. When 
> I tune in CW I am finding what I feel is quite a bit of distortion on CW 
> signals unless I turn the RF gain almost, if not, all the way down. I 
> can play with the BFO and vernier tuning and get the tones a bit better 
> as well, but when I do, I just dont feel I have the correct tone that I 
> like to listen to. Im wondering if a filter of some sort is not working 
> correctly or something like that. Lots of signals seem to be extremely 
> loud as well. Most would probably say, thats great, but Im not sure it 
> is really the way it is supposed to be.They almost sound as if they are 
> overloading the receiver. I have a dozen 6C4 tubes that I have swapped 
> over and over. These dont seem to be an item I think to be an issue. I 
> have swapped a couple of 12AU7 tubes in the product detector and I have 
> found one to be terrible and make things worse but I only have 3 
> altogether and 2 are in the radio. One in the product detector and one 
> in the bfo meter position. Possibly the 2 I have in the radio are not 
> that great either but wouldnt know unless I had some replacements to 
> try. Could I have a problem in my product detector? I would love to hear 
> if I am expecting something that I dont need to cure or maybe have an 
> idea what could be wrong if there is an issue. Any advice would be 
> greatly appreciated.
> 
> Thanks-Bob-W0YBS