Thank you Will for making these videos. Your calm method of troubleshooting and repair is outstanding. I still have my HW-101 that I built in 1973 and it is one of my prized possessions. It’s not a shelf queen; I use it regularly and get positive feedback during QSOs. I’ve learned a great deal from you on this rig. Best 73, Tom
Hi Will, I just discovered your channel and I'm delighted you rebuild HW-101 transceivers. I built one 50 years ago when I was a kid. It was my first radio. I wish I still had it. I always enjoyed it until I discovered girls and then the radio got put in the closet and lost in a move. Lol. You've got me kinda wanting to find a nice one to help remember my youth. Thanks Ted. K4SI
Hi Will The 101 that you restored for me a year ago is still going strong. Keep doing what you do and maybe take on a SB 220 amp or some other rescue heathkit. take care 73's
Excellent work, excellent video. Please keep it up, I love this sort of content. I've always followed Mr. Carlson's advice and literally washed an old dirty amp with WD-40, maybe half a big can while working it with a tooth brush and paint brush. I know that's a bit controversial, but I've done it many times. I agree with Carlson that the WD-40 renews old pcb boards and keeps them in strong shape for a long time. That said, my next amp I'll try washing an amp in the sink like you did haha and probably with a few gallons of distilled water instead. Here in California our well water is terribly hard.
I'm not crazy about the WD-40 approach, but many, many times I've taken radio and guitar amp chassis to my driveway and scrubbed them with dish soap and simple green. I used a hose attachment (made for car rinsing) that created de-ionized, filtered water for the final rinse, blast it with compressed air and let everything dry spot-free in the SoCal sun. Your distilled water is a good idea! I'd take some sensitive bits out first (say a Collins VFO!) but it's a very valid approach to cleaning old gear. Long ago, an old-timer told me "There ain't nothin' in that radio that water will damage" and he was pretty close to right. Some guys run them through the dishwasher, but I don't like the lack of control and I'm afraid it could wash silk-screening right off!
@@socallars3748 Thanks, great info. Now that I'm thinking on it, I might make the distilled water a solution of maybe 3-5% oxalic acid while cleaning to remove rust from a really weathered amp. I've often scrubbed with oxalic acid to remove rust spots, but if you're already bathing and scrubbing might as well do it in one go.
Will This was a very wonderful video really loved it. Nice of to think of others and sharing valuable info. Learned so much. No words to express my gratitude you are a gift to Ham Radio a True Ham thanks 73s Mike WB7QXU
Hi Will. I always enjoy seeing your Heathkit restorations appear on the QRZ swapmeet, not because I'm in the market for one but because I like your videos and methods! Question, what is your approach to cleaning/lubing variable capacitor bearings? I've got a Drake TR-4 on my bench right now, it's caps turn reasonably well but are a bit stiffer than what I think is appropriate. If I ever do buy one of these cool old rigs, it will be one that you've worked your magic on!
I am really amazed with water inmersion and soap brushing. I always thought the water could harm the coils. You will say about the oven but amperimeter (instrument) is not plastic? because will be harmed regards
Hi there. Excellent radios you have there. I have a question for you. Where do you get the rubber drive belts. I have a TS 510 and the belts look the same. Thanks. Paul .De HS0ZLQ, G0MIH
Did you power it up without a light bulb current limiter? I don't use a variac, but at least a light bult as a limiter / fuse! I've never heard a tech say I expect it to smoke or blow up, that's mostly preventable. Love your work otherwise :)
I've worked a lot of DX in my life and could never count how many non-Americans asked me what "rig" I'm using. Seems to me that ops worldwide call their radio a "rig," probably because it's a short and easy word to send/copy in CW. I'm a mediocre CW op, but the word jumps out at me, just like 73, ES, 599 or CQ.
It is definitely used in America for any complex machine. For example, computer hardware enthusiasts call their computer setup a "rig", fishermen use it and so do professional truckers - truck being a "big rig". I think it's originally a sailing term for the complex set of ropes and sails that got the ship rigged. These radios are definitely rigs.
