I am watching the PTO chatter on here and that got me to thinking about Drake PTO's with respect to smooth tuning and lubrication.
I have owned several Collins radios and know how grease can get dried out and cause the PTO to drag. I've cleaned out and lubed two PTO's so far. I am not familar at all with the Drake PTO's or what their mechanism is. I do hear talk all the time about their 'smooth tuning' so I have high expectations. Do they suffer from dried out grease problems like the Collins PTO's and have to be cleaned and relubed? I am looking at buying a Drake 4C line and one station I'm looking at has not been used since the early 90's which makes me a bit nervous for several reasons. Are there any weaknesses with the Drake 4C line equipment that I need to consider when buying a station, and particularly that has not been used for a long time? Has here been any problem with power transformer insulation going bad and wires shorting internally? I saw an L-4B for sale some time back and noticed that as a part of the restoration, a new power transformer was installed. Is this a common thing or rare? As always, the electrolytics are suspect. I would imagine replacing all the electrolytics in the L-4B would be prudent for example. My Collins 30L-1 came with all of the HV electrolytic caps ruptured for example. Are there other problems that I should be looking out for? How common how the station consoles, the one with the mechnical/digital clock? Any 4C stations for sale from list members here? I am nearing the completion of a massive radio sell off, having sold maybe 60% of my stuff in the last year, and having maybe 15% more to go before I reach equilibrium. I have some tradeables left including a near minty Hallicrafters SX-115, Johnson Ranger 1, Collins 75A-2, Ten Tec Corsair w/PS & 250 hz filter, Collins S-line 32S-3/75S-3B/516F-2, Heathkit SB-200, National SW-3. Thanks, 73, Scott WA9WFA
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