[SignalOne] CX7A - Why am I doing this?

[signalone@mailman.qth.net]

I've been refurbing an IC-720A.  Got it going at 95%.  The remaining
anomaly is that the RIT doesn't work.  The IC-720A is "like" a small
CX7A. 

Given that radios are pretty good now, that I have an IC-720A and
working Heathkit SB's, why did I buy a basketcase, guarenteed dead CX7A
on eBay?

The answer is, because it's there.  I've been restoring and repairing
Heathkits.  It's fun. I started a couple years ago when a hand surgery
went bad.  My doc told me to work my fingers or I could lose some
mobility.  I started refurbing an SB-303 to force my fingers to grip
and twist.  I've been working on Heathkits, cleaning, adjusting. I
discovered that I could take a "guarenteed dead", beater Heathkit to
near showroom quality.  I discuss this at 

       www.kiyoinc.com/heathstuff.html

When the CX7A showed up on eBay, it was too much to pass up.

I drove an hour to get the delivery.  I opened it in my car, I
couldn't wait to get it home.  

Later, I got the powercord.

It was a thrill to see the CX7A come alive.  It was fascinating to open
PTO-B and realize that the ferrite slug was loose and only needed a
little glue to get working again.

I attached a dual channel Tektronix LCD scope (with dual channel
frequency display) to both PTO's.  I could see the waveform, output
voltages, and the frequency.

But a digression.  Last summer at the Berryville Hamfest, I spoke with
a fellow, local big gun DX'er I guess, he had 3 Alphas for sale.  The
deal was, he was reducing his collection and expected to sell only one.

He wanted $900, $1,000, and some other amount for the better 374, the
three holer. Strangely, you don't see that many big amps for sale.
$900 for his lesser 374?

The other week, a 374 went on the Bay.  I bid it up to $450 and dropped
out. It sold for $650.  Not that bad.  If I had the cash...

Signal/One, Alpha.  Unless there is a dramatic change in HF protocol,
I'll be running my boatanchor stations for the rest of my life.  

I'm 56 and in good health so that could be a long time.  I'm not an
electronics technician/engineer, I'm a software engineer (programmer
with a Masters in Computer Science).  I do the hardware thing as
recreation.

I suspect that in 10 years, Signal/One, Alpha will be "like" running
Gold Dust Twins.  Not because it's THAT good but because it is that
interesting.  An integrated station?  Dual PTO's. 100 Hz readout.
Passband tuning. RF clipping. Interesting.

So my current project is the CX7A. No rush, if it takes a year, I'll
get it going, put it back on the air. 

I am looking for parts, information, and technical advice.  The
power supply is a mess.  There is a regulator with one lead cut.  There
is a largish regulator on the back.  The HV is butchered.

I need to understand how Signal/One designed the power supply.  

I know the issue of the Beryllium block.  My undergraduate
degree is in chemistry.  

It's good to get feedback from Bob Sullivan (Mr. Signal/One
maintenance) and I hope to work with Fern and his friend.

I'm sending this through the list rather than replying directly
because I think people like to read about fixing radios. 

de ah6gi/4