[Heathkit] SB-650 repair and restoration

[Richard Solomon]

You might want to consider buying a
decent de-soldering tool.
I bought a HAAKO, a tad pricey but it removes
solder without harming the board.
Great for salvaging IC's. Just tap the board
and they fall off.

73, Dick, W1KSZ

On Wed, Jan 1, 2020, 5:34 PM Bwana Bob via Heathkit <
heathkit at mailman.qth.net> wrote:

> Happy New Year; so far, so good.
>
>
> I use an SB-650 digital display  with my HW-100.  If I had an SB-101, I
> wouldn't bother with a digital display, but with the 5 kHz resolution of
> the HW-100 dial, it definitely benefits from a digital display.
>
> However, every time I use the   SB-650 digital display  it acts flaky.
> I usually have to open it up and reseat a bunch of chips or swap some
> around.  As it warms up it may get better or worse.
>
> I think part of the problem is oxidation of the IC sockets. I've tried
> Deoxit on the IC pins, but it only gives temporary results. I'm thinking
> that this could be fixed by plugging Gold-plate socket headers between
> the chips and the sockets on the PC board. I am not going to desolder
> and replace the existing  sockets; that would destroy the board.
>
> The other cause of malfunction is excessive heat.  I read somewhere that
> the 7400 series TTL chips can be replaced with 74LS  Low Power Schottky
> equivalents (if one can still get them).
>
> Does anyone have experience with improving the reliability of the
> SB-650?   (I bet the redoubtable Mike Bryce, WB8VGE has some ideas).
>
> The other option is to give up on the SB-650 and get something like
> this:  http://www.electronicspecialtyproducts.com/dd103.html but I do
> like the classic looks of the SB-650.
>
> Thanks, and 73,
>
> Bob WB2VUF
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