RESTORATION: Hunts CB-2U Capacitor Analyzer - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Ti Pwun · 10th Jun 2016, 11:29 am

Thanks to Jim (G4XWDJim) I now have this lovely old piece of test gear that I am in the process of restoring. Here's how the chassis looked when I got it:

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...pictureid=3498

After derusting the chassis with Evaporust (shameless plug - not affiliated in any way but this stuff is great), I had something decent to work with:

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...pictureid=3499

After that was done I straightened the bent chassis.

Now I am starting to clean and refit the various parts:

I cleaned the 6E5 valve and repainted the shield. I also derusted the retaining clip.

I checked the transformer windings, which are fine, and then cleaned & polished the shell. I applied some 'Liquid Tape' to the wires where they enter the transformer to give them stability; I didn't want a wire breaking off there!

The valve holders were then freed from the old wiring, cleaned and then refitted. The 1V valve base has an aluminium housing so that was cleaned, polished and refitted.

I cleaned and applied switch cleaner to the central potentiometer. I have refitted it but the tin cover was rusty so I derusted that and it currently is primed and awaiting a chrome top coat.

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...pictureid=3500

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...pictureid=3501

I will post more as I progress.

Edit: Mmmm - I was hoping the images would show up instead of links but I've tried 'attaching' them in the past and they all show up at the bottom of the post so I can't add text between each image. Is there a way to do that?

Ti Pwun · 12th Jun 2016, 5:45 pm

Did a bit more work on this:

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...pictureid=3507

All being well I'll have a valve soon.

I could really do with a decent schematic with component values and wattages, etc. The one I have is usable but I don't know if anything in this is original so a bit more info than what I already have would be useful.

For example, I'm reading approximately 1k on the short resistor that is installed and approx 100k on the longer one that I have yet to reinstall. How far out are they, I'm wondering? I'm hoping to re-use them.

The 'chrome' on the pots is just primer and chrome paint top coat but I think they look fine. I only have one tier of the rotary switch installed but I should have finished cleaning the other soon.

threeseven · 12th Jun 2016, 6:07 pm

Have you / will you apply anything to the chassis to prevent future corrosion?

Ti Pwun · 12th Jun 2016, 6:19 pm

At the moment I am just sorting out the parts and putting them back in for safe keeping, but before I start on the wiring I will remove everything and apply a clear lacquer to protect the chassis.

Radiocruncher · 12th Jun 2016, 9:05 pm

Looking good Jon. There's some hours gone into that. Will be great to see it all back together and in use. I recently purchased a Heathkit version which I have yet to tackle. Great work.

Graham

Ti Pwun · 12th Jun 2016, 9:34 pm

Thanks Graham. Seems like it takes forever because of the labour and then the waiting for paint to dry, etc., but I have several projects on the go and this one is starting to take shape now.

Jon.

Andrewausfa · 12th Jun 2016, 9:54 pm

Jon, as it's a licenced version of the 'universal' voltage version of the Solar CB1-60, have you asked on the US Antique Radio forum? There is an old thread from 2006 on there where a parts list is mentioned. Someone might have it on their PC.

Andrew

Ti Pwun · 12th Jun 2016, 11:08 pm

Thanks Andrew. I did know that but didn't see an old thread showing components. I knew some parts were missing and that the transformer is larger than it should be so I did want more info. I have already downloaded a schematic but I'll do some more research. Can't do anything until next week but I'll see what I can find then. If there is an article showing component values/ratings, I hope to find it.

Thanks again,

Jon.

Andrewausfa · 13th Jun 2016, 8:46 am

Hi Jon,

This is the thread, it seems at one stage there was a parts list uploaded by someone to the sites gallery. It might be worth a question to the guys over there.

Good luck anyway.

Andrew

http://www.antiqueradios.com/forums/...pic.php?t=3625

Ti Pwun · 16th Jun 2016, 7:47 pm

Thanks for that, Andrew. I'll put the feelers out over there.

Jon.

10th Jun 2016, 11:29 am	#1
Ti Pwun Heptode Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 888	RESTORATION: Hunts CB-2U Capacitor Analyzer Thanks to Jim (G4XWDJim) I now have this lovely old piece of test gear that I am in the process of restoring. Here's how the chassis looked when I got it: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...pictureid=3498 After derusting the chassis with Evaporust (shameless plug - not affiliated in any way but this stuff is great), I had something decent to work with: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...pictureid=3499 After that was done I straightened the bent chassis. Now I am starting to clean and refit the various parts: I cleaned the 6E5 valve and repainted the shield. I also derusted the retaining clip. I checked the transformer windings, which are fine, and then cleaned & polished the shell. I applied some 'Liquid Tape' to the wires where they enter the transformer to give them stability; I didn't want a wire breaking off there! The valve holders were then freed from the old wiring, cleaned and then refitted. The 1V valve base has an aluminium housing so that was cleaned, polished and refitted. I cleaned and applied switch cleaner to the central potentiometer. I have refitted it but the tin cover was rusty so I derusted that and it currently is primed and awaiting a chrome top coat. https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...pictureid=3500 https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...pictureid=3501 I will post more as I progress. Edit: Mmmm - I was hoping the images would show up instead of links but I've tried 'attaching' them in the past and they all show up at the bottom of the post so I can't add text between each image. Is there a way to do that? Last edited by Ti Pwun; 10th Jun 2016 at 11:35 am.

12th Jun 2016, 5:45 pm	#2
Ti Pwun Heptode Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 888	Re: RESTORATION: Hunts CB-2U Capacitor Analyzer Did a bit more work on this: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...pictureid=3507 All being well I'll have a valve soon. I could really do with a decent schematic with component values and wattages, etc. The one I have is usable but I don't know if anything in this is original so a bit more info than what I already have would be useful. For example, I'm reading approximately 1k on the short resistor that is installed and approx 100k on the longer one that I have yet to reinstall. How far out are they, I'm wondering? I'm hoping to re-use them. The 'chrome' on the pots is just primer and chrome paint top coat but I think they look fine. I only have one tier of the rotary switch installed but I should have finished cleaning the other soon.

12th Jun 2016, 6:07 pm	#3
threeseven Octode Join Date: May 2010 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 1,880	Re: RESTORATION: Hunts CB-2U Capacitor Analyzer Have you / will you apply anything to the chassis to prevent future corrosion? __________________ BVWS member

12th Jun 2016, 6:19 pm	#4
Ti Pwun Heptode Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 888	Re: RESTORATION: Hunts CB-2U Capacitor Analyzer At the moment I am just sorting out the parts and putting them back in for safe keeping, but before I start on the wiring I will remove everything and apply a clear lacquer to protect the chassis.

12th Jun 2016, 9:05 pm	#5
Radiocruncher Hexode Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Torrington, Devon UK. Posts: 446	Re: RESTORATION: Hunts CB-2U Capacitor Analyzer Looking good Jon. There's some hours gone into that. Will be great to see it all back together and in use. I recently purchased a Heathkit version which I have yet to tackle. Great work. Graham

12th Jun 2016, 9:34 pm	#6
Ti Pwun Heptode Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 888	Re: RESTORATION: Hunts CB-2U Capacitor Analyzer Thanks Graham. Seems like it takes forever because of the labour and then the waiting for paint to dry, etc., but I have several projects on the go and this one is starting to take shape now. Jon.

12th Jun 2016, 9:54 pm	#7
Andrewausfa Octode Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: St Ives, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 1,180	Re: RESTORATION: Hunts CB-2U Capacitor Analyzer Jon, as it's a licenced version of the 'universal' voltage version of the Solar CB1-60, have you asked on the US Antique Radio forum? There is an old thread from 2006 on there where a parts list is mentioned. Someone might have it on their PC. Andrew __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life. Or they should do. BVWS Member

12th Jun 2016, 11:08 pm	#8
Ti Pwun Heptode Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 888	Re: RESTORATION: Hunts CB-2U Capacitor Analyzer Thanks Andrew. I did know that but didn't see an old thread showing components. I knew some parts were missing and that the transformer is larger than it should be so I did want more info. I have already downloaded a schematic but I'll do some more research. Can't do anything until next week but I'll see what I can find then. If there is an article showing component values/ratings, I hope to find it. Thanks again, Jon.

13th Jun 2016, 8:46 am	#9
Andrewausfa Octode Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: St Ives, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 1,180	Re: RESTORATION: Hunts CB-2U Capacitor Analyzer Hi Jon, This is the thread, it seems at one stage there was a parts list uploaded by someone to the sites gallery. It might be worth a question to the guys over there. Good luck anyway. Andrew http://www.antiqueradios.com/forums/...pic.php?t=3625 __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life. Or they should do. BVWS Member

16th Jun 2016, 7:47 pm	#10
Ti Pwun Heptode Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 888	Re: RESTORATION: Hunts CB-2U Capacitor Analyzer Thanks for that, Andrew. I'll put the feelers out over there. Jon.