On 3/19/2012 1:20 PM, JohnD wrote:
Hello everyone...

I have just purchased (10 bucks) a Lafayette HA-230 receiver.

Person I purchased it from says that it belonged to his dad and it
worked fine when his dad used it seven years ago.

His dad died and he has had it stored for the seven years.

He says that he plugged it in and it lights up but he could not get it
to receive. It did not appear to me however that he knew how to use it.

I would like some advice from you guys here that have used/worked on
this model receiver.

Never worked on this specific radio, but generic free advice cheerfully
given -- and worth every penny! :-)

After sitting for seven years, what should I do to the unit before
trying to use it myself?

Absolutely the first thing you do is download and read the free
instruction manual available from this site:

http://bama.edebris.com/manuals/lafayett/ha230/

Read the part about "How to operate" before you do anything else; it
could be something as simple as the "receive-standby" switch (if so
equipped) being in the standby position or something else equally as simple.

I did plug it in and the lights do come on, but I did not hook it up to
an antenna. I wanted to check for scratchy switches on the front panel.

Try an antenna; just a 10 foot hunk of wire across the floor should
suffice for testing. If this radio covers the MW broadcast band, try it
there first, tuned to a local station.

I found a couple that need to be cleaned and I read in a post last night
that the band selector switch should be cleaned as well.

I am also wondering if there are any "known caps" (or other parts) that
should be replaced right off the bat?

I am not a tech but have done minor repairs to CB radio equipment for
many years. Thinks like replacing drivers, finals, caps, protection
diodes, LED panels and the like.

I have no injection equipment or scopes, just my trusty VOM's. And of
course, a dozen or so good soldering irons.

If still no joy, try removing and re-seating each tube. Make sure no
tubes are missing, dark or in the wrong socket.

Next, use your VOM to check for B+ at various places around the rig,
using the schematic you downloaded above.

Generic troubleshooting tips...

Put your finger on the GRID of the first audio stage and then the audio
output stage. You should hear a hum in the speaker if the audio stage is
working (this radio DOES have an internal speaker, right?). BEFORE you
put your finger on the GRID of the audio *output* stage, use your VOM to
make sure the voltage on the grid is very low or slightly negative. If
the interstage coupling capacitor is leaky, a lot of the B+ from the
first audio stage will be present and give you a shock. MEASURE FIRST.

With the HA-230 set for the broadcast band, you can use a separate AM
transistor radio to see if the oscillator is working.

That should give you a few ideas to start with.

Good luck and let us know what you find.