[Test-Equipment] HP-606B

[Richard Knoppow]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Barry" <n4buq at knology.net>
To: "Discussion of Electronic Test Equipment" 
<test-equipment at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2014 12:17 PM
Subject: Re: [Test-Equipment] HP-606B


> For you folks with a 606A/B, are the fins on the main 
> tuning capacitor bent at all?
>
> Regards,
> Barry - N4BUQ

     I asked Carl this about the generator he is working on. 
The rotors of my 606A were bent rather a lot.  I think this 
was done in production. When I worked for -hp- it seems to 
me we sent most 606 generators to the factory because of the 
odd tuning capacitors but my memory is very faint about 
this.  I carefully unbent and centered the caps in mine. I 
think this was a mistake.  While its unusual to bend plates 
on anything with multiple bands -hp- did it on the 200CD 
audio oscillator and, in fact, has instructions on how to do 
it in the handbook.
     If your 606 plates are bent my advice is to leave them 
alone. The dial calibration process involves slipping the 
dial as well as setting the end points. It should be 
possible to get the calibration to about half the specs. 
Also, if the plate bending was from the factory, you may 
have trouble tracking the amplifier. The AGC depends on the 
oscillator tracking well, if it does not you will get dead 
spots and other problems.  At some point I will get another 
606 (preferably a B) but managed to get mine working right 
after all too much work.
    Now, if the plates are NOT bent don't bend them.
    BTW, I wrote Art Fong about this but he couldn't 
remember and was having domestic problems at the time. Art 
designed the 606A and 608 series generators.  He is SK now.
    Good luck and let me know what you find.


--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
dickburk at ix.netcom.com