[R-390] EAC Rocketship project--PTO endpoints WAY out.

[Bob Weiss]

Have been plugging away on the EAC, and have it up and running , at least
well enough to pick up local AM stations.

The Cosmos branded PTO cannot be endpoint adjusted, as the adjustment screw
runs out of range. Unit is out by 18KHz over the 10 turns travel.

It appears that a previous owner was already poking around (first sign of
any work other than tube changes) in the PTO the factory seal tag has been
violated, and signs of the green mounting screws and the endpoint adjust
screw having been "diddled"with quite a bit previously.

Anyone have a good PTO available, or thoughts on how to repair this one? I
have heard about removing a turn from some internal coil?


In other project notes, I was surprised to find the meters on this unit to
be just as "hot" as the old ones I pulled from my Stewart Warner.  Trying
to track down a suitable set of replacement meters for this one. I had
heard that the later production were supposedly non-radioactive, but this
being one of the last units built, I wonder how it got hot ones, which look
original, no evidence of swapping.

The cores in the IF cans are VERY stiff/sticky, particularly the bottom
slugs.  Any particular solvent/heat technique to break them free without
damage?

Found a couple completely unsoldered connections in the AF deck, on the
filter can sockets. They do seem to have been making good contact, no sign
of arcing. Assembled on a Monday, and inspected on a Friday, I guess?

After the recent thread about the filament choke burning up in the RF deck,
I checked the area on mine. Mine was also quite close to grounding out on
the chassis, but no sign of arcing/burning, so I redressed it slightly and
it should be fine.

Have lined up a set of IERC shields to replace the cheap silver ones (many
of which are cracked/split). Guess the civilian market didn't rate those?
Or were they all field change additions?

The civilian unit apparently didn't ship with the tools attached to the
rear panel. The spring holders for them were never installed.

73,
Bob Weiss N2IXK