[Heath] RTO Status And My SB-102

[James Owen]

HI Rick,    Sorry to hear that RTO is likely closing their doors.  The SB/HW series of Heathkit is pretty simple to repair and keep going as almost anyone with a little troubleshooting experience can usually fix them.  The problem you cite, a warble is likely what you suggest the VFO.  I have never worked on the SB-102 VFO but have repaired several  TRW VFO's in the SB-100/101.  The usual problem has been intermittent contact between the capacitor rotor and ground.  I think what happens is that some oxide builds up on the moving bearing contacts possible due to dried up lub and or lack of use.  I found that a length of braid connected from the rotor to ground cured the problem with the TRW VFO's.  
   Now as to the fuse blowing problem.  The fuse in my HP-23 is 3 amp and likely the circuit breaker is the same.  I have seldom blown a fuse when tuning to maximum output which on my HW-100 and SB-101 runs about 110 watts. It would take some current measurements to determine the problem but something is causing an excess load on the primary. Look for a bad contact on the fuse holder which is in the plug on the HP23 as excess heat can cause the fuse to blow.  Don't know what else to tell you except if you can borrow another power supply you could determine if it's in the transceiver or power supply.
73 Jim James C. Owen, III K4CGY

      From: Rich Sahlender <wa3wlh at comcast.net>
 To: Heath <heath at puck.nether.net> 
 Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2018 7:16 PM
 Subject: [Heath] RTO Status And My SB-102
   
I thought there may be others on the list that woulod want to know this.

I received an email from RTO that they are cancelling all service
requests on the waiting list. They will complete service on what they
have received thus far but if you were waiting for the "go ahead and
ship" as I was... well... the notification will not be coming.

Some years ago I bought a SB-102 from someone on this list. It has been
on the shelf waiting for me to get around to restoring it since. I have
been working on so much other old gear I just never seem to get around
to the 102 so figured I'd give RTO a try. I am disappointed of course
but understand that RTO has done a lot of good work for us over the
years although I have not had an occasion to use their services until
now. I am sure they will be missed.

With regards to my 102 I have it receiving on all bands. It seems
sensitive enough but there is an issue that I expect is related to the
LMO. From the low end of each band to the middle the receive is very
stable. From the middle to the high end it is for lack of a better word
"warbly". Any suggestions on what this might be other than the LMO?

Xmit also works with low drive. I imagine it also work with higher drive
but every time I crank it up above 90 watts or so while in tune it blows
the fuse in the Hp-23. I rebuilt the HP-23 with one of the boards from
Harbach but the old circuit breaker was toast so I replaced that with a
fuse holder. I don't recall if I had 3 or 5 amp fuses in there while
tuning the 102 and blowing several fuses in the process. I figured this
was something else that RTO would handle after fixing the "warbly"
receive.

Anyway any suggestions appreciated. I am not really up for messing with
the internals of the LMO so if the concensus on the warbly receive is to
tear into the LMO I may just offer it up here to someone more capable
than I or as a parts unit etc...

Tnx es 73 de Rich WA3WLH
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