[R-390] R390A restoration.. x 2

[mikea]

On Sun, Jun 07, 2009 at 11:14:15AM -0400, Optonline wrote:

> Greetings All...


> Pardon my naiveté, but I am new to the R390A list and recently came
> into ownership of two not-so-well-kept R390A's and the dual-unit rack
> in which they were mounted. Both units are Collins '55 contacts. I've
> lusted after one of these since childhood, and now I have two in need
> of serious TLC.. And yes, I did by the complete set of Rippel videos.
> :)

Congratulations. You did very well indeed, especially in getting the
rack. How are they mounted in the rack? Angle-irons to support the
bottom edges? Just by the front? (bad idea) Other: ___________?

> After stripping the chassis to the wiring harness, the inner portion
> of the chassis cleaned up rather well. Unfortunately, the sides are
> fairly scraped up (it's not easy to slide 85lbs of receiver in and out
> of a rack) and was wondering if I should leave it this condition, or
> pull out the orbital sander and polish these up.. I'd love an opinion
> on this.

Number One Son found a nice hydraulic lift last week at a garage sale,
quite obviously designed for racking heavy equipment. There were two of
them, actually, but he didn't get the second one for me. He may recover
ffrom the tongue-lashing ... . I'd leave the sides as-is, unless you
absolutely insist on having everything as pretty as possible. 

> I would sincerely appreciate any input the group could provide me
> along the way. My full-service shop and I are certainly up to this
> task (I am an RF Engineer by trade), and I cannot wait to have these
> beauties adorn my radio-room!

Before-and-after images probably will be of interest to many of the
people on this list. Certainly I'm interested. 

Thanks and 73, de

-- 
Mike Andrews, W5EGO
mikea at mikea.ath.cx
Tired old sysadmin