[R-390] UPS Drop kicked my R-391 !

[Barry Hauser]

Phil wrote:

>The outer frame looks like it can be
>straightened and the RF deck turns freely. Removing the front panel may
>reveal more problems but I'm waiting for the UPS inspector to arrive first.
>Clearing some dust off with a finger shows a very clean chassis. All in all
>not bad considering I planed to tear it down anyway. Still I can't help
being
>a little annoyed.

I think you're on the right track, Phil.  Don't let 'em take it away.
R-391's are highly repairable.  "Reparable R-390x's" have been a staple of
Fair Radio for many years, so it must be so.

However, you have a circular problem.  It might be better to drop the front
panel and possibly lift a few modules to check further to have a complete
list of parts to replace with price quotes from here and there.  You might
call UPS (a bit of a stretch here) and explain that some disassembly may be
needed to reveal the extent of concealed damage.  Or, drop the panel,
inspect, and reassemble without fixing anything and give them the list --
they won't know what the heck is what -- unless they send an R-391 Shipping
Malpractice Specialist.

However #2.  My experience in the Twisted Radio Dept. (way in the back by
the hammers) is that when you drop a panel of a slightly bent radio, it
sometimes won't go back together again because everything is under tension
right now.  I had a similar experience with a banged up SP-600 VLF.  Once I
dropped the panel, I had to go the rest of the way -- straighten it out and
a side panel, etc. before I could line things up again.

It's one of those YMMV things-- might even be a Yin-Yang thing.

What troubles me though is that "Still I can't help being a little annoyed."
Sounds like you need an alignment -- running way too mellow.  Correct output
is a lot annoyed, mucho grande annoyed, beacoup annoyed, angered, P-O'ed,
fit to be tied, outraged, enraged, boiling mad, ARRGGGHHHH!, etc.

Recommendation is to (a) keep the R-391, (2) stay angry, (3) assess the
damage, (4) get your claim money, (5) fix radio (while being somewhat
annoyed, but engrossed), then (6) get mellow -- but just for a while.  Why?
Because it's (7) autotuner overhaul time!  Then get serious, steely-eyed and
practice your thousand-yard stare.

Barry