[R-390] Fixing a R-390A module connector

[David Olean]

I just got started on restoring a 1967 EAC R-390A receiver. It looks 
pretty clean, with just a bit of schmutz on the chassis. I looked it 
over and saw that two slug racks did not move. That was easy. I found a 
gear that was not tightened with its' clamp. A more troubling problem 
was the big multi pin receptacle on the IF module. One of the exposed 
pins had been bent over and flattened against the chassis! I tied to 
unbend it, but it fell apart as soon as I touched it.  I changed out the 
problem caps in the IF assy with new modern capacitors, but was worried 
that I now had a bad connector to deal with.  Here is what I did.

I filed down what was left of the broken pin to get a flat surface.  
Next I gently tried to prick punch the flat brass so I could start a 
small drill bit. I ended up using a #66 drill bit in a pin vise and 
slowly got a hole started in the flattened area. When I had enough depth 
to start a real drill, I bolted the IF assy down on my drill press and 
drilled a small 0.030" hole in the brass. (Maybe 0.100" deep) Next, I 
opened it up with a #60 drill bit to 0.040" which is the diameter of the 
pins required.  I turned down a new 0.040" pin out of HH brass on the 
lathe and adjusted the length so that it fit in the new hole properly 
and extended as far as the existing pins.  A bit of flux and some solder 
to hold it in place and the busted connector now looks just like a 
perfectly good one!  Hoo-Boy... shades of McGyver!!  Now on to the next 
problem!

I took some pictures, but I don't think pictures are allowed on this 
reflector.

Dave K1WHS