[Heathkit] Heath HX-10 Marauder restoration

[Mike McCarthy, W1NR]

I have a Marauder that my Dad built and I used during my novice and 
general years in the 70's. I haven't turned it on in a very long time, 
but my goal is to completely rebuild it by removing everything and 
replacing all except the mechanical parts like sockets, transformers, 
etc. It would be about as close to building the kit from scratch as you 
can these days.

As for the RTTY mod, my Dad did one of those also. I will need to search 
for the documentation on it bit I think it had something to do with 
driving the TX with the 60ma current loop out of the mechanical 
teleprinters of the day.

Mike, W1NR

On 12/25/2011 07:34 PM, Rick Poole wrote:
>
> I am about to begin restoration of my Heath HX-10 Marauder and have a
> couple of questions.
>
> History is... bought it at NEARfest (big semi-annual hamfest in New
> Hampshire) maybe four years ago for a cheap price.  The seller told
> me he had used it as recently as two weeks prior.  I have not plugged
> it in or turned it on since I got it... some other things distracted
> me and I ended up putting it on the back burner for a while.
>
> There are some fairly extensive and undocumented modifications,
> allegedly to make it more useable on RTTY, which is the other reason
> I didn't turn it on... I'd like to restore it to it's original
> configuration before doing that.  Fortunately I have a good quality
> manual reprint (though I'd like it if the schematic was clearer) and
> two other parts donor units to use for reference.
>
> So, first question is... Should I just replace all of the
> electrolytics and not bother with the variac / "bring it up slowly
> and hope for the best" routine?  I have no special interest in
> keeping it looking 100 percent original and "correct"... this thing
> will never be "museum quality" anyway... so I don't mind if the
> replacement electrolytics don't look original.
>
> I'm putting in yet another Mouser order tomorrow and wanted to add
> these to the order if necessary.
>
> Thanks...
>
> Rick WA1RKT
>