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Vintage Amateur and Military Radio Amateur/military receivers and transmitters, morse, and any other related vintage comms equipment. |
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20th Jan 2018, 12:18 am | #1 |
Tetrode
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 78
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AR88 enclosed tools
Hi Everybody
Being new to the forum I have a question for all you fans of RCA's AR88: I know that some tools were shipped with the radio when new among which was an Allen key but there were also som trimming tools. Does anyone have more info and/or some pictures of these parts? I used to have an AR88D in the 60's and today I am planing to buy another and like it to be as complete as possible. Jan |
20th Jan 2018, 3:32 am | #2 |
Heptode
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Rotherham, South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 559
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Re: AR88 enclosed tools
Morning Jan.
Welcome to the Forum. You can see the two Trimming tools in the photo, I hope this will help you, I have 2 AR88D/ 1 CR91/ and 1 AR88LF. Regards Kevin Last edited by Kevin Hoyland; 20th Jan 2018 at 3:39 am. |
20th Jan 2018, 10:33 am | #3 |
Tetrode
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 78
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Re: AR88 enclosed tools
Hi Kevin
Thanks for the picture with the tools, can you give some more details (dimensions and material) and possibly some picture o the business end of the trimming tools? Jan |
20th Jan 2018, 11:33 am | #4 |
Heptode
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Camberley, Surrey, UK.
Posts: 800
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Re: AR88 enclosed tools
Jan
It's harder to find the tools than an AR88! The "allen" key was a American "spline" tool, the name for it eludes me!! it was for the grub screws in the knobs. In Kevin's picture, the tuning box cover has been removed to reveal the tools, make sure you get this as well. There have been many threads re AR88 maintenance, but perhaps the most important is to check/change the output valve grid coupling capacitor as failure will lead to the loss of the output transformer. I have two AR88s, my best set was supplied to the BBC monitoring service about 1942 and I have the acceptance engineers notes including his thoughts on RCA standard alignment. The second one is a rather grubby example held in reserve. |
20th Jan 2018, 12:00 pm | #5 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 13,454
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Re: AR88 enclosed tools
Bristol wrench?
Lawrence. |
20th Jan 2018, 12:34 pm | #6 |
Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 22,805
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Re: AR88 enclosed tools
I posted photos of the ends of the AR88 tools on here some years ago.
David
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20th Jan 2018, 3:40 pm | #7 |
Heptode
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Yarm, North Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 535
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Re: AR88 enclosed tools
Bristol wrench - https://bristolwrench.com/bristol-wr...ve-parts-list/
There are sets of them advertised on ebay.co.uk Colin Last edited by camallison; 20th Jan 2018 at 3:41 pm. Reason: Spolling! |
20th Jan 2018, 7:20 pm | #8 |
Tetrode
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 78
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Re: AR88 enclosed tools
Thanks everyone for your inputs, I have now managed to find the pictures posted by David - nice work.
Jan |
21st Jan 2018, 1:27 am | #9 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Coulsdon, London, UK.
Posts: 2,153
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Re: AR88 enclosed tools
A 2mm Allen key (Hex wrench) is a good fit in my RCA knobs.
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21st Jan 2018, 1:21 pm | #10 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK.
Posts: 8,923
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Re: AR88 enclosed tools
Bristol wrench is correct,I bought a set off Ebay from the states.
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18th Feb 2018, 11:59 pm | #11 |
Tetrode
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 78
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Re: AR88 enclosed tools
Just bought an AR88D in very good condition with a nonfunctioning S-meter( according to the seller), a speaker. and much to my surprize it came with both the trimming tools and the Allen wrench. Both the radion and the speaker are dated 1944.
The S-meter just need a twist of the adjustment pot to work! Jan |
19th Feb 2018, 7:34 am | #12 |
Heptode
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Rotherham, South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 559
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Re: AR88 enclosed tools
Morning Jan will you please put photos on of your AR88.
Kevin. |
19th Feb 2018, 9:15 am | #13 |
Hexode
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Buderim, Queensland, Australia.
Posts: 428
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Re: AR88 enclosed tools
Jan, I can assist in your workshop cleanup.
I can dump that AR88 for you. Day or night. Mike |
19th Feb 2018, 10:01 am | #14 |
Tetrode
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 78
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Re: AR88 enclosed tools
Will add pictures in a few weeks time
Jan |
19th Feb 2018, 10:09 am | #15 |
Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 22,805
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Re: AR88 enclosed tools
Jan, there are two critically important thing you should do to your AR88:
1) Check/replace the coupling capacitor from the anode of the 6SJ7 to the grid of the 6V6. They go leaky, turn the 6V6 hard on and burn out the audio transformer. 2) consider bridging the 'trans' position on the mode switch. As original it disconnects the HT feed to the set and lets the HT voltage go very high. It over stresses the PSU and you get a loud crack when moving the switch into the next position. David
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Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done |
20th Feb 2018, 12:35 pm | #16 |
Tetrode
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 78
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Re: AR88 enclosed tools
David
Thanks for the tips, - Re C118+C122 they were replaced by a 10 nF by a previous owner. - Re bridging the "Trans"- pos - for the time being I use an extension cord with a switch, Jan |
20th Feb 2018, 5:06 pm | #17 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 13,956
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Re: AR88 enclosed tools
I've heard it alleged that the reason the trimming-tools for AR88s are so rare is that they were removed from receivers delivered to certain government establishments as a way to stop unauthorised twiddling!
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20th Feb 2018, 10:33 pm | #18 |
Hexode
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Buderim, Queensland, Australia.
Posts: 428
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Re: AR88 enclosed tools
Hi Jan
here's a few AR88s and two HROs at a "certain government establishment" that we know as Bletchley Park in UK. FYI. Good luck with yours. |