[R-390] 390() vs 390(A)
Sandy Geiger
chg111 at hotmail.com
Wed Dec 29 08:53:29 EST 2004
Guys- I have an R-391, s/n 282, that I got from Rick Mish.
Electronically, it is tweaked to the nines,as all Rick's restorations
are, but I've never been brave-or foolish-enuff to fire up the
Autotune. Rick kinda suggested it would be in my-& the radio's- best
interests if I left it alone. Too many tales of R-391s eating
themselves have convinced me this is the right thing to do.-Sandy G.
C.H.(Sandy)Geiger III
>From: Barry Hauser <barry at hausernet.com>
>Reply-To: Barry Hauser <barry at hausernet.com>
>To: paul at pdq.com, Roy Morgan <roy.morgan at nist.gov>
>CC: r-390 at mailman.qth.net
>Subject: Re: [R-390] 390() vs 390(A)
>Date: Mon, 27 Dec 2004 19:06:47 -0500
>
>Hi Roy & gang
>
>Well, if you get one, YMMV. Odds are the autotune doesn't work --
and it's
>not a good idea to try it before overhauling the thing, no matter how
>tempting. Most owners of '391's use them like 390's and have never
powered
>up the autotune. So, they've been sitting for ages. The switch
contacts in
>the control unit are probably oxidized, and the stack of pawls --
they're
>like a sandwich -- are all glued together by the petrified lube that
is
>needed to be super-slippery for the thing to have snowball's chance
to work
>in the first place. Also, the thing probably needs to be re-synched
--
>after it's overhauled. It is impossible to walk this gizmo through
manually
>in steps, though you can put a bristol wrench in the synch adjuster,
lock
>the knobs down and rotate it. However, it's not a complete
simulation as
>the relay and control unit aren't doing their things. It's all
hard-wired
>together -- including the relay -- no socket.
>
>So, having one offers no assurance of comprehending how it's supposed
to
>work, let alone mastery. You have to walk through the manual
explanation,
>and that's lacking. Actually, the equivalent manual section for the
R-105
>(ARR-15?) does a better job. The mechanisms are similar.
>
>The best procedure is to open up whatever you can, degrease, clean
contacts,
>re-lube, see if things move, set the synch. Then, make darn sure
that the
>channel selector is set to the same number as shows in the
window. Lock the
>locking keys down tight. Then apply 24 vdc to the 4th pin -- use an
outlet
>strip to cut the supply if there isn't a handy switch. Then change
>channels --which will start the show. Even if it's working, you'll
be
>startled at the noise and the gnashing of gears, slamming and
banging. It
>is a wild experience the first time you see a '390's knobs turning by
>themselves. Both turn, then one stops, then the other turns. If it
was
>past the point, it rewinds. After what seems like a few minutes (or
hours),
>it will stop at some frequency. If it runs amok and tries to
>modify/remachine the 10-turn stop (to infinity), cut the DC.
>
>The thing's a puzzle -- what's that saying? -- an enigma, wrapped in
a
>paradox -- never could get that right, either. There was supposed to
be an
>R-391A, but there wasn't. I suspect it was partly because by the
time they
>got around to it, there was some field experience with the first
one. Also,
>it needs the beefier geartrain of the original item.
>
>It's a good idea to take an 83 mg. aspirin about an hour before you
start --
>or a couple a' good snorts. It's scary. After we spend all the time
>cleaning, lubing, replacing broken clamps, synching, aligning,
recapping,
>meditating over the ballast tube considerations, refinishing panels,
>re-stuffing plugins, etc. we have a tendency to treat these things
with some
>delicacy and respect. The autotune mechanism doesn't know from
that. If it
>isn't working right or not synched up, it may well try to tune your
'391
>into the '389 range -- or to 2.4 ghz -- or maybe even 5.8 to listen
into the
>new cordless phones. Yup, it'll wreck yer deck -- if the vibration
doesn't
>kill half your tubes. (Make sure the filament in your ballast tube
is nice
>and flexible before powering up.)
>
>
>Poll -- how many of you guys have R-391's with working
autotuners? How many
>with non-working ones? How many unknowns? Actually, I think it was
Paul
>who rebuilt his '391, right?
>
>Barry
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Roy Morgan" <roy.morgan at nist.gov>
>To: "Barry Hauser" <barry at hausernet.com>; <paul at pdq.com>
>Cc: <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
>Sent: Monday, December 27, 2004 6:05 PM
>Subject: Re: [R-390] 390() vs 390(A)
>
>
> > At 05:46 PM 12/27/2004, Barry Hauser wrote:
> > >Roy wrote:
> > > ... In the R-391, both the KC and MC setting mechanisms
> > > > are moved by (separate) Motors and associated position setting
> > > > mechanisms.
> > >
> > >Not so .. only one motor in the R-391. I have two of the beasts.
> >
> > Barry,
> >
> > Thanks for the clarification. I had some mis-conceptions.
> >
> > All the more reason to own one so I can learn the beast!
> >
> > 73,
> > Roy
> >
> >
> > - Roy Morgan, K1LKY since 1959 - Keep 'em Glowing!
> > 7130 Panorama Drive, Derwood MD 20855
> > Home: 301-330-8828 Cell 301-928-7794
> > Work: Voice: 301-975-3254, Fax: 301-948-6213
> > roy.morgan at nist.gov --
> >
> >
>
>
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