[MRCA] Opinions regarding restoring bathtub capacitors

[D. Platt]

Meir WF2U wrote:
> Folks,
>
> I picked up an E.H. Scott Navy RCH receiver (same as the SLR-F civilian
> nomenclatured receiver). Paid big $42 for it...
> It's in pretty decent condition but the initial Variac-aided "smoke test"
> shows that at least some bathtubs are not good. They're really not shorting
> but I get all kinds of feed back and howling in the audio, and the audio is
> intermittent. I also found one of the 4 uF filter caps (oil filled paper
> cans)leaking and getting warm, so I took it out I'll stuff that can with the
> new cap as it's showing above the chassis.
> The receiver when it feels like working right, sounds great, stable and
> fairly sensitive (it'll work down to about 60VAC input!).
> My dilemma is whether to use the bathtubs - 2 and 3 section - to hide the
> new caps under, or whether I should open the tubs and stuff them with new
> bypass caps. I can imagine opening a tub like this is a pretty messy job. 
> There are something like 10 of them, but no discrete bypass caps, so the
> whole thing is really neatly wired and easy to service.
> I'm sort of a purist, but who looks at the bottom of the radio under the
> chassis?
>
> Opinions please...
>
> Also, does anyone have a scan of the RCH original Navy nomenclature tag from
> the front panel ? Mine came with no tag. I guess the SLR-F tag would do as
> well..
>
> Thanks,
>
> 73, Meir WF2U
> Landrum, SC
>
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>   
Meir, 
I'll agree with Dennis.  In my case, I've seriously considered the 
re-stuffing route but have elected instead to use modern capacitors, 
placed at their respective point-of-use.  I have resolved that if I can 
restore the equipment to original working condition, and with the 
addition of whatever physical reconditioning I can reasonably do, I have 
done the job well.  I certainly do appreciate the efforts of others who 
take the time to re-stuff everything from paper tubulars to electrolytic 
cans (which I do sometimes do) but its not in my restoration job 
description, so to speak.  If its below the chassis, all's fair.

Regards and good fortune with your project.  de Jeep/K3HVG   PS... UR 
rig sounded vy gud on the MIL Net Saturday morning.