[Milsurplus] SRR-13A - Tune up tools question

[Mike Morrow]

Hutch wrote:

> I have an working SRR-13A so I may be able to use the parts.  
>
> So my big question what are the proper tuning tools required
> for the set; and  what do they look like?

I think that most of your questions may be answered by the very large
navy manual at:

 http://bama.edebris.com/manuals/military/srr-11-12-13/

I got an AN/SRR-13A through Navy MARS in 1970, complete with USN mods to
replace the 6X4 rectifier and numerous small vacuum-tube diodes with
solid-state equivalents.  It was my best receiver, and my only full-
coverage shortwave receiver, until 1978.  I carried it from duty station
to duty station while I was on active duty.  In particular when I was
stationed out in Idaho for naval power reactor training, it was my only
electronic entertainment after returning home at 0100.  All the local
TV and radio stations in that part of the country shut down at midnight.
Technically, it was still government property until the Navy (the only
MARS service that retained ownership of equipment issued to members)
dropped accountability in 1973, sending me the custody forms I had signed.

I had to do work on it when it was first received, and over the years I
had several tubes die due to filament burn out.  The only tools I had
was the ability to pull the main chassis out of the case and connect AC
power at the back of that chassis.  Then it was a matter of looking for
signs of trouble after removing the sub-assembly covers.  I never had
any special tools or extension cables such as those used in the manual.

The biggest challenge I had was re-loading the spring tension on a couple
of gears in the main tuning dial drive.  They'd come un-sprung and created
backlash that wasn't tolerable.

AFAIK, all the sub-miniature tubes are still easily and cheaply available.
With your spare, you'll be able to swap out whole module assemblies.

BTW, whatever you do, protect the glass tuning plate used to create the
dial image projection.  It can be cracked or broken with a blow from a
dropped tool, and it will not be repairable.  There have also been warnings
that the ganged band switch assembly arms are easily broken pot-metal,
but I personally never had any breakage.

Everyone discounts this series of receivers, but I liked mine.  I still
have it 42 years later (about three times longer than the USN had it),
out in storage.  I always wanted the VLF/LF/MF AN/SRR-11, but I mistrusted
the condition of the several I've seen in the past 15 years at Dayton.
Instead, I've got a much more robust AN/WRR-3B of the type that my submarine
used (but not often...subs weren't required to monitor 500 kHz at any time.)

Mike / KK5F