[Johnson] Ranger finale!

[Sherrill Watkins]

Cal: It sounds like you have made good progress on your Ranger. Keep us
posted as I enjoy reading your progress reports. Question: I hope you
carefully checked ALL OF THE RESISTORS?? The carbon type are notorious for
changing value with age and use. Also, if possible, I suggest to check your
power supply transformer and choke to make sure that they do not have any
internal voltage leakage to the frame; thereby causing them to overheat. This
may be difficult to check but could save you from the unpleasant experience
of a transformer or choke burning out.  -73- Sherrill W. k4own.
-----Original Message-----
From: n6kyr at netzero.com [mailto:n6kyr at netzero.com] 
Sent: Monday, August 23, 2004 5:10 PM
To: johnson at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Johnson] Ranger finale!



All:
I completed restoration of my Ranger on Saturday. After completely getting
out ALL of the old electrolytics, I carefully shoehorned the new items in. I
was most concerned with the h.v. caps but the spacing between the posts of
the choke (which held the old h.v. cap) was just the right size to hold the
two barrier strips that has the two 100 uF/450 VDC caps and two 100k
bleeders. The old cap setup was rated at 10 uFd at 800 VDC. The new set up is
five times that at 50 uFd. Additionally, the l.v. cap is now filtering at 100
uFd v. 30 uFd (which was the previous cap). Also, I changed out the PTT relay
to something that had three poles vice the two of the original LM-11. Now I
can key the unused pilot light located on the left side of the front panel
(almost like a built in "on air" lamp).

I also changed out various paper and other electrolytic caps in the xmtr. The
only items that I haven't changed out was some of the caps in the audio
section, but then again, I don't have the tubes for AM modulation yet
(however, a pair of NOS RCA 1614's are on the way from Argentina, of all
places). 

In any event, I put in a temporary (fused) line cord and installed all the
knobs. Then, I fired it up, thoroughly expectiong the 6AX5 to arc and spark
again. Nothing except glowing filaments. YAhoo! After letting the unit settle
in, I noticed that the osc indication was jumping around! I did change out
both the OA2 and 6AU6 in the VFO so maybe extraneous gases were being zapped.
The meter eventually settled down. 

I continued with the tune up procedures. All bands produced a nominal 50-60
watts out! YEESSSSS!!!! But I was transmitting into a 30 watt Radio Shack
dummy load so I put some water in a coffee cup to add to the head dissapation
capabilities of the load. Worked great! 

In any event, that's about it. Looking forward to getting it on AM and
eventually, on the air! Cal, N6KYR. 

________________________________________________________________
The best thing to hit the Internet in years - NetZero HiSpeed! Surf the Web
up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month -visit www.netzero.com to sign up
today! Johnson mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/johnson
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html
Post: mailto:Johnson at mailman.qth.net