[Hammarlund] Capacitor replacement

[wes Bolin]

I recapped my SP600JX21 back in 2013.  I think I replaced over 55
capacitors.  The big electrolytics came from Hayseed Hamfest.

I used the technique of cutting out the stock capacitors, leaving short
leads from the soldered connections.  The replacement capacitors had their
leads wound in a coil and trimmed.....the coil slipped over the short lead
stubs and then were soldered.  A good mechanical and electrical connection
resulted.

My shack is an out building that is not environmentally controlled.  Very
hot in the Summer and very cold in the Winter.  The SP600 sat during months
of inactivity due to other projects, timing, etc.  Today it works as it did
8 years ago. No failures due to the recap process. In fact, the only
problem is that the Signal Meter has decided to stick half-scale sometimes,
depending on temperature.

IMO this technique is far less invasive and prone to damage as opposed to
desoldering all capacitor connections.  BTW I used a heat gun to remove the
back plate of the bathtub caps, soldered replacements in the tub shell, and
then reattached them to the chassis to keep the original "look".

It is quite a project, but worth the time and expense to do it, IMO.   Have
fun.
Wes