starman wrote in message
...
RadioGuy wrote:

Hi Steve, I've been away for awhile... happy to see you are still here;
lots
of folks have left it seems.

Yea... halfbaked... you know me... remember that long thread years back
where we picked at the R8B? I still haven't changed my mind about it!
My
R8B gets a serious workout; it's on everyday and sometimes all day too.
Over the years since I had it little glitches keep coming up. I've
reached
the point where it might be a cheaper to trade it in on a new one
instead of
sending it back to Drake for repair---labor was $70.00/hour a couple of
years ago, maybe more now. Besides, every time it comes back there is a
new
ding here and there.

Problems I notice now is drifting of the notch, passband control has
slowly
moved off center, some crystal must have drifted off frequency as I get
a
beat when it should be zero beat in LSB and USB mode during exalted
carrier
reception and a quirk that comes and goes---It take a couple of three
seconds to get audio after the receiver is turned on and sometimes I
have to
crank the audio gain way up to get it to go. I just don't feel exicited
about trouble shooting it myself.

BTW, I guess it's been a year since I did a clean job on the
encoder/switch. Everything is running fine. I am really beginning to
think
its the grease that the encoder/switch is packed with that is the
problem
with the premature failing of the control that folks are
experiencing---you
might have read my analysis a year ago. I cleaned mine with DeoxIT and
lightly lubed it with CaiLube---that's after I cleaned all the grease
out of
it.

Best Regards,

RG

My R8B has been quite reliable except for the notorious encoder wheel
too. I agree that the factory lube seems to be the problem. After
thoroughly cleaning it and relubing with 'Super-Lube' (a synthetic
grease) I've had no further problems with the encoder for over a year
now. Do you power your R8B with AC or DC? I use a 12-V regulated supply.
The radio is usually on all day and most of the evening. It runs quite
cool on DC. How old is yours? Mine was made in late 2000.

Howdy Starman, I remember swapping email with you; I've been away for
awhile.

My R8B was bought back in January,1998. If I remember how to read the
serial number mine was made in 1997.

I run the receiver off the mains but use battery when we loose power (which
is often in summer during the monsoon).

RG