By Walter Cates WD0GOF (UPDATE 10/30/2013)
17
3. SUBSYSTEM TECHNICAL INFORMATION
3-1. RIG CLEANING
3-1-1. CHASSIS CLEANING
Step 1
: I have found all forms of foreign matter in rigs emerging from long term storage. My favorite of cleaning
method is the bathtub, Scrubbing Bubbles bathroom cleaner, and the shower hand wand. I set the rig in the tub,
back side down, front panel up. With the rig leaning against the side of the tub I spray it full of
Scrubbing Bubbles and let it set 3 to 5 minutes. Then I spray it full again and after 5 minutes I rinse it using the
shower hand wand. I do this on the top and bottom side of the chassis. I keep the Scrubbing Bubbles away from
the front panel, dials and meters, just use common sense. All the brown residue, smoke odor and filth literally
run down the drain. Very seldom is any scrubbing needed, if it is I do it with a ¾” wide paint brush with half the
length of the bristles cut off. I rinse it a second time then it sets in front of a fan for a day. See following photos.
Step 2
: Now that it is squeaky clean the potentiometers need the application of a suitable control
cleaner/lubricant.
Step 3:
Some mechanical drive trains to tuning devices require special lube so don’t forget them.
Step 4
: The relays are next. I use thin strips of card paper, about 3” long and 3/16” wide. Place a drop of
DeOxit on the paper and slide it back and forth between the contacts. Manually energize the relay and clean the
normally open contacts as well. A pair of hemostats simplifies this step. NEVER USE SANDPAPER.
Step 5
: Now for the controversy, The Wafer Switches! Every three months or so on one of the ham
forums a wafer switch cleaning war breaks out. No minds are changed, no territory is conquered. Hostilities
subside only to be resurrected a few months later when the “new be” asks How do I clean my wafers. There are
at least 3 regulars out there that vehemently oppose my method and that is ok. It works for me and to date I have
not suffered any loss due to it. First I take a cotton swab and cut a little cotton off the tip. I spray a little DeOxit
in a small glass bowl. I dip the swab in the DeOxit and clean the switch. Pretty simple and no over spray. I
NEVER
spray DeOxit into a rig.
Step 6
: Now to clean the tube sockets. Somewhere around the tooth brushes at your local store you will
find very small round brushes used to clean between teeth. There are usually 10 or 20 to a package. Once again
I use DeOxit in the glass bowl. Dip the brush, insert the brush, spin the brush, repeat 150 times or so and you’re
done. See following photos.
CHASSIS CLEANING CONTINUED
You can see that as the bubbles run down the chassis it is clean and shiny
Summary of Contents for SR-150
Page 18: ...By Walter Cates WD0GOF UPDATE 10 30 2013 18...
Page 19: ...By Walter Cates WD0GOF UPDATE 10 30 2013 19 BEFORE CLEANING CLEAN CHASSIS...
Page 20: ...By Walter Cates WD0GOF UPDATE 10 30 2013 20 3 1 2 TUBE SOCKET CLEANING KIT...
Page 21: ...By Walter Cates WD0GOF UPDATE 10 30 2013 21 3 1 3 AIR VARIABLE CLEANING...
Page 30: ...By Walter Cates WD0GOF UPDATE 10 30 2013 30 3 5 5 K3 WIRING AND PIN OUT...
Page 38: ...By Walter Cates WD0GOF UPDATE 10 30 2013 38 4 DATA SHEETS...
