Dave wrote:
I have just about finished restoring and re-calibrating a 47 year old
HQ-145. I have only one issue left.

The input stage for the first rf amplifier uses slug tuned inductances.
The slug adjustments proceeded normally for the BC, 160-80, and 40 meter
bands. The slug for the 20 through 10 meter band is "STUCK".

Oftentimes what appears to be a stuck slug is actually a broken slug.
If the slug has a hexagonal, square, or triangular hole that passes through
its center, and the slug splits along that hole, the tuning wand will cam
the two halves of the slug tightly against the walls of the coil form, and
the harder you turn, the tighter the slug will hang on.

The answer to this sort of problem is to glue the slug halves together with
crazy glue. A single dot of glue, inside the slug's hole, applied directly to
the crack with a toothpick will do the trick. The amount of glue must be very
small. Less is more in this case.

An alternate method is to glue a round toothpick into the broken slug with epoxy.
Again, dip the toothpick into the epoxy, and slide it into the hole without
touching the coil form. Use the minimum amount of glue that will stick the pick
into the slug's tuning hole.


-Chuck