Wellbrook loop repair

[vinrads]

I had this strange buzzing noise on the radio I was repairing it turned out to be the loop aerial at fault, when a bird landed on it or the wind moved it, it was going unstable. On inspection the fault was the connection from the pre amp to the loop intermittent.

This is a weak point and bad design in my opinion. I checked with the makers and they confirmed my suspicion, and would sell me a modified pre amp for £130! I don't think so. Having been warned that I could damage the unit if I took it apart, I promptly took it apart.
The connections to the pre amp were via a braided wire which I managed to solder some stainless wire to about three inches long. The loop was cleaned, and the wires trapped to the loop by two stainless jubilee clips, a bit of silicone grease applied, then wrapped the clips with self amalgamating tape. It now works perfectly. If I can find someone to weld a wire to the aluminium I will go down that path, but for now it works and cost me four jubilee clips. Mick.

[Mach One]

Well done! I had a similar fault on two of mine and am on my third - in fifteen years! The latest one has an improved design which should mean the end of the problem.

[60 oldjohn]

It is possible to solder aluminium, please "Search this website" above. Sounds like it should be ok for a few years though.

John.

[G4YVM David]

Aluminium soldering....immerse in oil, file the surface under oil to prevent oxidation, solder.

I have not done this but it's an old model engineers trick which I am assured works.

David

[TonyDuell]

It does. I've done it.

[Radio Wrangler]

Bit far away, I'm afraid. I routinely weld aluminium. I have a stub mast on the gable end of the house which holds a multiband co-linear and supports the middle of a doublet, all made out of welded bits of thick-wall aluminium 2 inch tube. I've done all sorts of repairs for people, including sticking together the pieces of a segmented microwave dish fragged in the gales a few years ago.

David