In any case, the big point I was trying to make, is never, ever
use abrasive paper to clean up the contacts on anything. It will
cause the contacts to arc and burn from that point forward.

Thanks Chuck /Dave...

But to be honest, I fiq it was worth it. The problem kept pointing back
to the relay! As a new relay (which I'm ordering) was only $16, I wanted
to eliminate the relay as a problem once and for all... as tubes were
much more costly.
And I did reclean them with alcohol after.

But maybe it was more of an alignment of the contacts in the end that
was also effecting it.

But the Drake is working fine, will swap out the relay soon and keep in
the spare pile along with several nos tubes.

Happy Holidays to all
Tom