[Johnson] Done For Tonight & for awhile

Thu Jul 2 12:20:15 EDT 2015

Thanks Evan.
The VFO turns nice & easy but  I did get a shock when I unplugged the microphone plug last night & I noticed that if I don't push the plug in fast & just go slow it will key up the transmitter tell it is in all the way..
ONE other thing .. near the back by the 3 -6146 tubes there is a stack of pink colored coils next to R-13 and that stack of coils I think were just about to get hot as I saw some kind of trace of smoke starting to come from them when I noticed the 6146 tube getting real blue  but I shut it down pretty fast but I did  see the stack of coils wanting to start to smoke . So I am not sure as to turning it back on and seeing if it does it again but right now I am just leaving well enough alone tell I get more input as to what to check for on the tube getting a blue dancing flame inside & then another time a different tube got yellow /blue and both times I cought it right away & shut down..

-----Original Message-----
>From: Evan Rolek <k9sqg at aol.com>
>Sent: Jul 2, 2015 8:56 AM
>To: ramnaz at peoplepc.com, Johnson at mailman.qth.net
>Subject: Re: [Johnson] Done For Tonight & for awhile
>
>VFO coupler failure manifests itself in several possible ways.  Lack of VFO frequency change, sticky operation, "grinding" sound when rotating the VFO knob, etc.
>
>
>
>The only way I could envision the coupler causing "tube flashing" is if the coupler broke and prevented frequency change, and then one switched bands, "moved" the VFO frequency in-band when in fact the frequency wasn't actually changed, and then an attempt to tune up in a severely out of resonance condition causing excessive peak voltages in the output network.  
>
>
>
>73,
>
>
>
>
>Evan, K9SQG
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: richard <ramnaz at peoplepc.com>
>To: johnson Valiant Help <Johnson at mailman.qth.net>
>Sent: Thu, Jul 2, 2015 11:35 am
>Subject: Re: [Johnson] Done For Tonight & for awhile
>
>
>Hello Roger.
>Can't thank you enough for the reply.
>If my problem is with the
>Coupler how would I know as I have moved the transmitter around a lot on it's
>side many times and then back sitting right side up .. I do have a new coupler
>coming as I saw on e-bay a guy was making them and he talked about how they
>break easy so I bought one...Is there a test to check the coupler and would that
>cause the tubes to do as they are. I will try to see how to get to it as I can
>take the side panel off the VFO Box & Look and then I will get back to you with
>what I find but I am waiting for the new one to come..
>Thanks Again Roger.
> 
>Richard
>
>..................  
>
>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Rodger
>Singley <WQ9E at btsnetworks.net>
>>Sent: Jul 2, 2015 5:53 AM
>>To:
>ramnaz at peoplepc.com, Johnson at mailman.qth.net
>>Subject: re: [Johnson] Done For
>Tonight & for awhile
>>
>>Richard,
>>
>>The Valiant/SX-101 is a nice vintage
>setup and it is what I used as a novice when I got my license in 1975 and
>recreating this setup in 1994 is what gave me my start in collecting and
>restoring vintage gear. I am currently traveling and I just saw your list
>postings.  When I return home I will send you a short document of hints I have
>put together for the Valiant, I own 2 Valiant transmitters and a Valiant II  and
>have repaired several for friends; I also own most of the other vintage models
>from Johnson so I have spent a fair amount of time inside them :)  But one
>caution before you go further is there is an insulating coupler used in the VFO
>drive which is easily damaged and this usually happens when the Valiant is
>turned upside down (with the case off) and the front panel flexes which will
>break the coupler.  It fortunately can be repaired fairly easily but it is
>unique with different input and output shaft sizes so it is best not to break it
>in the first place.  The safe
> st approach is to loosen the set screws in this
>coupler before flipping the transmitter over, this allows it to slide on its
>shaft rather than trying to hold the panel in place.
>>
>>I am reading email and
>keeping up with the online class I am teaching via a little Asus transformer PC
>which is very portable but not great for reading a lot of text so I haven't
>closely read all of the postings but if you aren't sure the bias filter
>capacitors have been replaced these should be done immediately.  Bias supply
>issues will cause a number of faults and some can be very damaging to other
>components.  If replacing bias filter capacitors be careful with capacitor
>polarity since the bias supply capacitors are installed with the positive
>terminal connected to ground-opposite of the more common negative to ground
>orientation.
>>
>>More to follow along with an email attachment of Valiant
>repair and operational tips once I return home to IL shortly.  I am currently in
>the soggy Smoky Mountains which isn't great for hiking and 12 miles away there
>is a big evacuation because of a CSX train derailment with toxic gas leaking. 
>Apparently CSX couldn't wait until the 4th to start their
>explosions.
>>
>>Rodger WQ9E
>>
>>-------- Original Message --------
>>> From:
>richard <ramnaz at peoplepc.com>
>>> Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2015 4:39 AM
>>> To:
>Johnson at mailman.qth.net
>>> Subject: [Johnson] Done For Tonight & for awhile
>>>
>
>>> Well as I said in my last note I was going to check the Bias & then check
>it out on 40 meters and so I tuned up my antenna for 40 got the Valiant tuned up
>and was doing some 123s and  1 of the 3--6146 started to get yellow / green and
>so I shut it off and will wait for the man I bought it from to return from his
>trip and then let him look at it and I wonder if anyone looked him up on QRZ his
>call is NE7X Tom and he has a nice big set up he built. Well anyway I will call
>it a night or morning as it is 2:30 am and there is nothing I can do with the
>Transmitter doing as it is.
>>> Maybe I will be back sometime with other
>questions who knows..
>>>      73
>>>   Richard--- AKA--- KB7FDF--- FDF= Far
>Distant Friend Just what all Hams Are..
>>> 
>>> Richard Morris
>>>
>______________________________________________________________
>>> Johnson
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>>> Help:
>http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>> Post: mailto:Johnson at mailman.qth.net
>>>
>Message delivered to wq9e at btsnetworks.net
>>> 
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>>
>>
>>
>
>
>Richard
>Morris
>______________________________________________________________
>Johnson
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> 

Richard Morris