[Heathkit] Re: Repairing Shipper Damaged Heath SA-2550?

[Robert & Linda McGraw K4TAX]

Before selecting material suitable for building an insulator for the 
capacitor, I'd suggest doing an "RF Test" on the material.  Fill a cup or 
glass with water and put it in the family microwave.  Put the "test 
material" also in the microwave beside the glass or cup.  Turn the MW on 
high for about 1 minute.  Carefully pick up the "test material".  If it 
melted.........need not say more.  If it is hot then it is not suitable for 
an RF application.  If it is cool or room temp then it will be a good 
choice.

I have purchased a polystyrene (white plastic looking stuff) cutting board 
at the local "big box" hardware store.  It cuts, drills and trims easy.  And 
it is a good RF insulator.  A cutting board that is 12 x 16" and about 1/4" 
thick sells for about $8.00.  That will make a lot of insulators.

And if you wish to invest in the real stuff, Small Parts of Miami sells real 
Teflon bar and rod stock.  Check their website.

I'd make some new parts before I'd spend the time and hassle with USPS or 
UPS for any recovery.  As to being "well packed",  as the story goes, if it 
got damaged then it was not well packed according to their book.

73
Bob, K4TAX


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ken Kaplan" <krkaplan at cox.net>
To: "Heathkit Reflector" <heathkit at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, May 12, 2006 5:47 PM
Subject: [Heathkit] Re: Repairing Shipper Damaged Heath SA-2550?


> doc,
>
> Three choices as I see it:
>
> 1. Find replacements from a parts SA-2550 (probably a chalenge)
> 2. Fabricate a replacement from plastic such as Lucite or Plexiglass 
> (relatively easy)
> 3. Fabricate a replacement from a suitably dimensioned ceramic diner plate 
> (real challenge)
>
> Maybe you can get USPS to find another SA-2550 that they trashed for parts 
> <g>.
>
> Good luck,
> 73 Ken kb7rgg
>
>> The US Postal Service somehow managed to vibrate the
>> SA-2550 sufficiently to trash the ceramic insulating
>> sections on the large variable capacitor.
>>
>> See four pictures here:
>> http://bibleseven.com/swapn.html
>>
>> Do I need to insist that this is a total loss or are
>> the parts available to repair it?
>>
>> This is the second older item that the Ham at the
>> other end said was "well packed" that has been
>> damaged internally.
>>
>> I wonder if USPS is suddenly doing something different
>> to save fuel that is harming cargo?
>>
>> Thanks! & 73, doc kd4e  http://bibleseven.com
>
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