[R-390] R-390a/URR parts for sale

[Randy and Sherry Guttery]

  On 12/1/2010 9:05 AM, Les Locklear wrote:

> I don't want to mess with this
> stuff anymore, I want to listen and not have to work on radios again. I have
> my collection and R-390's or R-390A's aren't in my crystal ball. I have
> found over the years that you can repair the R-390/A receivers to perform
> exceptionally, but they will always break down somehow.
Then tisha.hayes at gmail.com wrote:

>I had passed on a sweet deal for a collector quality R-390 (non A) at $600
>just because I did not want to deal with the "death by heat" regulator setup

Well - there is a solution - two actually- one is a fan - 
the other is a solid-state regulator that outboards the 
heat. We tried the regulator in one of mine - while it 
worked OK - it was bulky and well - just didn't seem 
"right"... Sherry's fan solution is better.

Sherry overhauled her R-391 in 1974 - (built it, actually - 
from several sets).   She spent 9 weeks going through the 
modules and basic frame.  She later completed the auto tune 
- and even went so far as to figure out how to adapt a 390A 
IF as a "plug and play" module when she wanted to "tighten 
it up".  She runs a squirrel cage blower on it that wasn't 
too noisy but moved a lot of air.  It ran just fine from 
1974 until it was stored in 2002 - when room here became a 
problem (when my dad died - and we had to move stuff we had 
stored at his place into here).  From 1974 until 2002 - it 
worked fine - with only the occasional tube replacement - no 
"component" breakdowns.  That's nearly 30 years - including 
being moved several times - once half-way around the world. 
I'm currently going through my R-390A doing the same sort of 
"every detail" clean, adjust, etc. (That project has been 
put on hold for the time being - as both cars decided to 
break down at the same time-  we're keeping one on the road 
after some temporary repairs by pouring water in it every 
few miles (25-30  miles to the gallon of water) - the other 
is almost back together after replacing the destroyed clutch 
and (wrong) transmission).  When I get my 390A finished - 
we'll pull her 391 out and go through it as well...  We 
"expect" they'll then run another 20 years - longer than 
either of us expect to be around...  We also hope to have 
the tty "kit" finished by spring - and we'll have a complete 
(real iron) rtty receiving station back together. I doubt 
we'll try and find the modulator and power supplies to a FRR 
39 to use as a transmitter as we once had...   maybe we'll 
work on the ART-13...     Nah...  Besides neither of us have 
a HAM license; and I doubt I can get away with using my 
commercial like we did over seas...  Maybe we'll take a 
test...    Nah...  about as much chance as using a SS 
receiver <grin!>

Maybe it's just us - but there isn't quite anything like a 
couple of 390s heating the room on a cold fall evening...

.02

-- 
randy&  sherry

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