[R-390] R-389 Adventure

[Norm Drechsel]

Thanks to everyone who commented on my restored R-389.

Many have asked my "secret" for getting metal so clean.  I'm sorry
to disappoint, but I have no secret.  Those who guessed a clean
radio is needed to start are correct.  Dirt is easily cleaned,
but if a chassis or frame is corroded, nothing short of stripping
down and starting over is going to bring back.  I've done
about a dozen R-390 and R-390A's over the years - and with
each I learn a little more - but there's no substitute for starting
with a healthy subject.

For chassis cleaning I use a Spick and Span liquid product named
Cinch. It used to be readily available in stores but now is
getting hard to find.  My most recent purchase was on-line from a
distributor in New Jersey.  I'm sure there are other cleaners out
there just as effective, but I've always had good luck with
Cinch don't want to rock the boat.

If there's a heavy accumulation of grease, I use a foaming spray
de-greaser first and then switch to Cinch.  Compressed air is
always at the ready to blow away the cleaner and it often takes
several cleaning cycles with brushing in-between to achieve the
desired result.  After blowing as much of the cleaner out as
possible, I store the decks on top of the oil-fired heater in the
basement to insure quick and thorough drying.  Later I go back
with Cinch on Q-tips to get all places missed with the brush.  A
final cleaning of all the electrical connections (tube sockets,
wafer switches and connectors) is done with DeoxIt.

Hardware, transformer cans and anything metal that comes apart
gets run through a small ultrasonic cleaner with a heated 25%
solution of Simple Green.  Lots of people report Simple Green is bad
for aluminum, but I've never had any trouble and always flush
liberally with hot water and then spread the parts out on paper
towels atop the heater to dry.  The ultrasonic does a fabulous
job, often turning the grungiest hardware shiny as new.

I use a larger ultrasonic cleaner on the gears of the R-390, R-
390A and R-392.  I made Nylon feet that secure to existing
fasteners to position RF decks face down in the tank.  I use the
same 25% heated Simple Green on the gears for about 15 minutes.
The volume of dirt that literally flies even the nicest looking
RF deck is simply astounding.  I then blow the cleaning solution
out with compressed air and switch the ultrasonic over to room
temperature WD-40 for another 5 minutes to displace the water
trapped in the split gears and bearings.  After a final blast of
compressed air and it's back on top of the oil burner to dry.

Front panels are depopulated and cleaned thoroughly with Cinch
(and lighter fluid when necessary).  The same goes for the back
panel, frame and cables.  There are no shortcuts except for the
ultrasonic, everything takes time.  The only parts I don't do
myself are knobs.  Those I send to Howard Mills - W3HM for
professional refinishing.

The R-389 RF deck wasn't a good candidate for the ultrasonic, so
was cleaned manually with WD-40 from spray cans and lots and lots
of paper towels and Q-tips.  The R-389 restoration took about 80
hours, over half of which was spent on the RF deck.

I have great respect for those who can turn a junker into a
respectable example.  I'm just a seasoned cleaner who picks my
projects carefully.  And one thing goes without saying... there's
no substitute for having a parts radio or two on-hand.  Even the
nicest example is going to need something replaced.  (They also
come in handy when you forget how something goes back together.)
When I did my first few R-390A's, I invariably had to scrounge for
parts.  Now I have restored spare modules for trouble-shooting
on-hand and lots of spare parts to fill every need.

I hope that answers everyone's questions and gives you some ideas
for cleaning up your own treasures.  While I rarely post to the
list, I've been an avid reader in digest form for many years.
Most of the techniques I employ were learned right here.  Thanks
to all who have given me ideas over the years and those who
stepped up to offer parts and advice when needed.

73 to all and Happy Restoring,
de Norm - WA3KEY
norm at wa3key.com