[Heathkit] Calibrating VF-1?

[Randy Perkins]

Hi Bob,

The closest I can get the calibration at 3500 is 3550. That is with the 
160 meter coil core adjusted all the way inside the coil (min screw 
exposed). This seems to be related to where the output coil is adjusted. 
I followed the instructions in the manual and adjusted the dial to the 
mark | just left of the 7000 with the capacitor fully meshed with the 
larger stator section. The trimmer capacitor has a very small effect on 
the frequency. Possibly this may be a clue. Possibly one of the 10 or 47 
pf fixed caps may be bad? I will have to disassemble the sub-chassis to 
get to these.
Do you know the exact fundamental frequencies that I should see at the 
output of the VFO on each band at the end of each dial range?

Thanks, Randy

Bob Macklin wrote:
> The way I adjust these units is to use the inductor to adjust the low end
> (ie. 3500) and the trimmer to adjust the high end (ie. 4000).
> 
> With the main tuning capacitor fully meshed (dial on the 3500 position) can
> you adjust the inductor to 3500 in the 80M position?
> 
> Bob Macklin
> K5MYJ
> Seattle, Wa,
> "Real Radios Glow in the Dark"
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Randy Perkins" <w5kcm at sbcglobal.net>
> To: <w5rkl at yahoo.com>
> Cc: "Kevin Ward" <n2ie at arrl.net>; "Bob Macklin" <macklinbob at msn.com>;
> <heathkit at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Monday, August 11, 2008 5:22 PM
> Subject: Re: [Heathkit] Calibrating VF-1?
> 
> 
>> Hi Mike,
>>
>> I have been told by some others that the 160 meter coil normally has
>> that gap near the end. It measures about 6.5 Ohms DC resistance. It is
>> difficult to count the turns due to the wire is extremely small (AWG #
>> 30+). After closer inspection, I doubt that the coil has been modified,
>> it has several coats of varnish.
>> I did check the 2.2 K and 22 K ohm resistors and they check pretty
>> close. I have gotten quite a few suggestions of things to check so I
>> have my work cut out for me.
>> Thanks, Randy, W5KCM
>>
>> Michael Waldrop wrote:
>>> Hi Randy,
>>>
>>> Missing turns on the 160 meter coil will definitely creates an alignment
>>> issue, at least on
>>> the low bands.
>>>
>>> I doubt the coil's wire gauge is heavy. Maybe someone has an original
>>> unmodified VF-1
>>> that can determine the wire size and turns. If you rewound the coil you
>>> would have to
>>> ensure the coil is stable and does not move around or is lose on the
>>> form. A couple coats
>>> of varnish could do this. The wire sould be solid enamel wire which can
>>> be obtained at
>>> various parts outlets on the Internet.
>>>
>>> 73
>>> Mike
>>> W5RKL
>>>
>>>
>>> 73
>>> Mike
>>> W5RKL
>>>
>>> --- On *Mon, 8/11/08, Randy Perkins /<w5kcm at sbcglobal.net>/* wrote:
>>>
>>>     From: Randy Perkins <w5kcm at sbcglobal.net>
>>>     Subject: Re: [Heathkit] Calibrating VF-1?
>>>     To: w5rkl at yahoo.com
>>>     Cc: "Kevin Ward" <n2ie at arrl.net>, "Bob Macklin"
>>>     <macklinbob at msn.com>, heathkit at mailman.qth.net
>>>     Date: Monday, August 11, 2008, 1:04 PM
>>>
>>>     Thanks Mike. I will check the two resistors. I picked up this VF-1 a
>>>     while back at a hamfest and it is very clean and looks to be put
>>>     together very well. Possibly it has not been used in many years. One
>>>     thing I noticed is that the 160 meter coil looks to have some turns
>>>     removed near the end of the coil. Possibly someone knows exactly how
>>>     many turns and what size if wire should be on this coil.
>>>
>>>     Thanks, Randy, W5KCM
>>>
>>>     Michael Waldrop wrote:
>>>     > You might want to perform the voltage checks on page 18 of the
> manual. I
>>>     also
>>>     > recommend checking the two grid leak resistors, 2.2K and 22K. The
> VF-1 is
>>>     quite
>>>     > old and with age resistors can and will change values which will
> affect
>>>     the oscillator.
>>>     >
>>>
>>>     > 73
>>>     > Mike
>>>     > W5RKL
>>>     >
>>>     >
>>>     > --- On Sun, 8/10/08, Bob Macklin <macklinbob at msn.com> wrote:
>>>     > From: Bob Macklin <macklinbob at msn.com>
>>>     > Subject: Re: [Heathkit] Calibrating VF-1?
>>>     > To: "Kevin Ward" <n2ie at arrl.net>
>>>     > Cc: heathkit at mailman.qth.net
>>>     > Date: Sunday, August 10, 2008, 9:50 PM
>>>     >
>>>     > Does it jump as you are changing the position of the main tuning
> capacitor
>>>     > or as you are adjusting the coil?
>>>     >
>>>     > If the coil is all the way to the max inductance you may have an
> bad or
>>>     > unsoldered capacitor.
>>>     >
>>>     > One thing to do is unscrew any solder lugs associated with the
> tuning
>>>     > elements and retighten them.
>>>     >
>>>     > Bob Macklin
>>>     > K5MYJ
>>>     > Seattle, Wa,
>>>     > "Real Radios Glow in the Dark"
>>>     > ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>     > From: "Kevin Ward" <n2ie at arrl.net>
>>>     > To: "Bob Macklin"
>>>      <macklinbob at msn.com>
>>>     > Cc: "Randy Perkins" <w5kcm at sbcglobal.net>;
>>>     > <heathkit at mailman.qth.net>
>>>     > Sent: Sunday, August 10, 2008 7:21 PM
>>>     > Subject: Re: [Heathkit] Calibrating VF-1?
>>>     >
>>>     >
>>>     >> Randy -
>>>     >>
>>>     >> I agree with Bob - look closely at the main tuning capacitor,
>>>     >> particularly the rotor wipers.  As to the drive issue; look in
> the
>>>     AT-1
>>>     >> manual.  IIRC, there is a circuit change for the crystal
> oscillator to
>>>     >> kill the feedback and make it behave as a buffer.
>>>     >>
>>>     >> Kevin  N2IE
>>>     >>
>>>     >>
>>>     >
>>>     >
>>>     >
>>>     >
>>>     >
>>>     >
>>>
>>>
> 
>