"Bill M" wrote in message
...
Paul P wrote:



Band 2 is the problematic band. It covers 1.650 to 5 MHz. The 5MHz is
the oscillator set point. The padder is to be set at 1.8MHz and does
not even come close with the difference at the 5MHz Osc Trimmer error.
This band is aligned after the 455 IF, BFO and two higher bands are
aligned. After this band is the standard broadcast band.

The padder C11 on band 2 is a variable cap with a postage stamp (domino)
in parallel. I disconnected this parallel cap in hopes of raising the
overall oscillator frequency to align to 5MHz with no success. It
barely made a difference (no big surprise here).

The other bands align properly starting with Band 4, 13.5 - 32 MHz,
band 3, 5 - 14.5 MHz and last
band 1 broadcast.

Are you able to get the 5Mc point set ok?

Sometimes the solution is to fudge on the dial pointer alignment and
see if the other 3 bands can line up. However, if they are spot on now
that might not be the direction to go.

-Bill

Should not have to fudge anything. The top and bottom bands are good so the
Oscillator is good. The 5 mc band is off so there is a bad part connected
to the band switch. Fix or replace. Fudging always makes more problems.

I had an S-120 growing up
http://image08.webshots.com/8/8/80/8...3yhLWvj_fs.jpg
and later, S-38E for show.
http://www.woulfeman.com/Radio%20Hallicrafters.jpg
I was SWL long before I got around to the ham ticket.

Should not have to fudge anything. The top and bottom bands are good so
the
Oscillator is good. The 5 mc band is off so there is a bad part connected
to the band switch. Fix or replace. Fudging always makes more problems.

I had an S-120 growing up
http://image08.webshots.com/8/8/80/8...3yhLWvj_fs.jpg
and later, S-38E for show.
http://www.woulfeman.com/Radio%20Hallicrafters.jpg
I was SWL long before I got around to the ham ticket.


JB was the closest. After fussing with it for another two hours I started
tracing the padders on each band. What I found was very curios.

There was a rather original looking wire connected from the band 2 osc
trimmer (coil lug 20, see schematic) to one of the antenna coils (tab O on
the wafer switch). Why that was put there? I have not a clue. Once I
disconnected the trimmer side of the wire the oscillator snapped back into
alignment range. It tweaked in at both the 5Mc and 1.8Mc alignment points
dead nuts on.

I desoldered the switch side of the jumper (tab O). The joint looked rather
factory and not owner installed. Curious. The Trimmer side (coil lug 20)
was definitely messed with (short lead and burned insulation).

Ham owned gear. It's like a box of chocolates. Ya never know what you will
find.

Thanks to all for the comments. They did help focus me on the band 2
circuit.

Paul P.

Paul P wrote:

There was a rather original looking wire connected from the band 2 osc
trimmer (coil lug 20, see schematic) to one of the antenna coils (tab O
on the wafer switch). Why that was put there? I have not a clue. Once
I disconnected the trimmer side of the wire the oscillator snapped back
into alignment range. It tweaked in at both the 5Mc and 1.8Mc alignment
points dead nuts on.

Amazing! Kudos for finding it.

-Bill

"Paul P" REMOVE paul @ REMOVE ppinyot . REMOVEcom wrote in
message news
Should not have to fudge anything. The top and bottom
bands are good so the
Oscillator is good. The 5 mc band is off so there is a
bad part connected
to the band switch. Fix or replace. Fudging always
makes more problems.

I had an S-120 growing up
http://image08.webshots.com/8/8/80/8...3yhLWvj_fs.jpg
and later, S-38E for show.
http://www.woulfeman.com/Radio%20Hallicrafters.jpg
I was SWL long before I got around to the ham ticket.


JB was the closest. After fussing with it for another two
hours I started tracing the padders on each band. What I
found was very curios.

There was a rather original looking wire connected from
the band 2 osc trimmer (coil lug 20, see schematic) to one
of the antenna coils (tab O on the wafer switch). Why
that was put there? I have not a clue. Once I
disconnected the trimmer side of the wire the oscillator
snapped back into alignment range. It tweaked in at both
the 5Mc and 1.8Mc alignment points dead nuts on.

I desoldered the switch side of the jumper (tab O). The
joint looked rather factory and not owner installed.
Curious. The Trimmer side (coil lug 20) was definitely
messed with (short lead and burned insulation).

Ham owned gear. It's like a box of chocolates. Ya never
know what you will find.

Thanks to all for the comments. They did help focus me on
the band 2 circuit.

Paul P.

Congratulations!!! I was about to post another answer
because I find that only the S-38 had a padder on this band,
the S-38A and B have just the 2200 uuf fixed padder.
As you say, who knows what that person thought they were
doing.
If the owner plays around with chain saws I can
understand why you wanted to please him.


--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL

If the owner plays around with chain saws I can
understand why you wanted to please him.


--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL

Yes. I should be seeing him today. He is an very active member of the
Skyview Radio Society ham club. He (and others) do a lot to promote Ham
Radio. He tried to talk the nurses into a VE session and getting their
license.

Paul P.

"Paul P" REMOVE paul @ REMOVE ppinyot . REMOVEcom wrote in message
news
Should not have to fudge anything. The top and bottom bands are good so
the
Oscillator is good. The 5 mc band is off so there is a bad part
connected
to the band switch. Fix or replace. Fudging always makes more
problems.

I had an S-120 growing up
http://image08.webshots.com/8/8/80/8...3yhLWvj_fs.jpg
and later, S-38E for show.
http://www.woulfeman.com/Radio%20Hallicrafters.jpg
I was SWL long before I got around to the ham ticket.


JB was the closest. After fussing with it for another two hours I started
tracing the padders on each band. What I found was very curios.

There was a rather original looking wire connected from the band 2 osc
trimmer (coil lug 20, see schematic) to one of the antenna coils (tab O on
the wafer switch). Why that was put there? I have not a clue. Once I
disconnected the trimmer side of the wire the oscillator snapped back into
alignment range. It tweaked in at both the 5Mc and 1.8Mc alignment points
dead nuts on.

I desoldered the switch side of the jumper (tab O). The joint looked
rather
factory and not owner installed. Curious. The Trimmer side (coil lug 20)
was definitely messed with (short lead and burned insulation).

Ham owned gear. It's like a box of chocolates. Ya never know what you
will
find.

Thanks to all for the comments. They did help focus me on the band 2
circuit.

Paul P.

Occasionally I find some equipment that never worked from the factory and so
escaped much wear and tear, being passed from one shelf to another. After I
acquire it for a song, I find a quality control issue. I got my IFR that
way.

On Apr 16, 9:36*am, "JB" wrote:

Occasionally I find some equipment that never worked from the factory and so
escaped much wear and tear, being passed from one shelf to another. *After I
acquire it for a song, I find a quality control issue. *I got my IFR that
way.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I agree with that! I have picked up several pieces of equipment that
are 'like new'
but have some subtle problem. Usually it is a small error with large
effect on operation.
Does not say much for factory QA!!

Neil S.