{"id":13193,"date":"2015-05-14T07:00:41","date_gmt":"2015-05-14T11:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=13193"},"modified":"2015-05-11T12:33:11","modified_gmt":"2015-05-11T16:33:11","slug":"jeffrey-re-caps-his-hallicrafters-sx-110","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/05\/jeffrey-re-caps-his-hallicrafters-sx-110\/","title":{"rendered":"Jeffrey re-caps his Hallicrafters SX-110"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The<\/a>

The restored SX-110 sitting on the bookshelf in the shack.<\/p><\/div>\n

Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> reader, Jeffrey Fritz, writes:<\/p>\n

During the summer of 2012 you were nice enough to run an article in your blog about my reviving a 1961 Hallicrafters SX-110 General Coverage receiver<\/a>. The radio has continued to perform reasonably well during the last few years. However, recently I acquired several pieces of professional test equipment. That encouraged me to delve even deeper into the restoration of my old receiver from my novice ham radio days.<\/p>\n

Over the past week, I completely recapped the SX-110 (except, of course, for the mica and ceramic caps as they still good, and the electrolytic caps as they were replaced in 2012.)<\/p>\n

The SX-110 isn’t a complex receiver, but there are quite a few caps, so I worked methodically and carefully. I started working from the audio amp stage and continued working back through the IF stages and the BFO to the RF stage. I recapped each stage replacing the old caps with new Orange Drop caps. Each stage was tested before I moved on to the next stage. Here’s a photo of the recapped chassis:<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"SX110-Underside\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Here are the capacitors that were removed from the receiver. Most are the old Bumble Bee caps–called that because of the color stripes that mark their value:<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"SX110-NewCaps\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Virtually every Bumble Bee cap tested leaky and out of tolerance.<\/p>\n

Next, I tested every tube replacing the weak or bad ones with NOS (New Old Stock) tubes. Every pot and switch was cleaned with DeOxit and moving parts were lubricated where appropriate. Finally, I did a complete re-alignment following the instructions in the Service Manual.<\/p>\n

As with all vintage tube gear, restorations require patience, care and a decent knowledge of electronics. It’s easy to make a fair radio–even a good radio–into a disaster if you are not careful. Also there is enough voltage and current inside of the chassis of a tube radio to toss you across the room. So care is always the order of the day as is a VARIAC to bring the radio up to AC line voltage slowly.<\/p>\n

The receiver now sounds as good as ever–perhaps even better than ever. It has marvelous AM audio and can pick up ham and broadcast stations on all bands with nothing more than a wire in my basement. It even does a decent job on SSB–something that I don’t recall it ever bring adept at in the past.<\/p>\n

That say that you can’t keep a good man down. Similarly an old radio, with some new parts and some TLC, can run virtually forever.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I agree with you: you can’t keep a good radio down! Repair work is certainly the commitment we make when we fall in love with these old rigs. It’s a good thing that almost all of the parts are still available and relatively affordable.<\/p>\n

Thanks again, Jeffrey!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Jeffrey Fritz, writes: During the summer of 2012 you were nice enough to run an article in your blog about my reviving a 1961 Hallicrafters SX-110 General Coverage receiver. The radio has continued to perform reasonably well during the last few years. However, recently I acquired several pieces of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[373,8,1271,3194,627,3,305],"tags":[1269,1270,1267,3832],"class_list":["post-13193","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-am","category-articles","category-boat-anchors-2","category-guest-posts","category-how-to","category-news","category-nostalgia","tag-hallicrafters-sx-110","tag-hallicrafters-sx-110-restoration","tag-jeffrey-fritz","tag-sx-110"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-3qN","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4093,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2012\/08\/jeffrey-revives-an-old-friend-his-hallicrafters-sx-110\/","url_meta":{"origin":13193,"position":0},"title":"Jeffrey revives an old friend, his Hallicrafters SX-110","author":"Thomas","date":"August 6, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"SWLing Post reader, Jeffrey Fritz, sent me the following message and has kindly allowed me to share it with other readers. I'mthoroughly inspired! As a teenager in the 1960s I spent a considerable amount of time SWLing on a Hallicrafters SX-110 communications receiver. I collected QSL cards from all over\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/SX-110-Restoration-1-300x178.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":43290,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/06\/listener-post-mike-stutzers-love-of-radio-began-with-a-hallicrafters-s-120\/","url_meta":{"origin":13193,"position":1},"title":"Listener Post: Mike Stutzer’s love of radio began with a Hallicrafters S-120","author":"Thomas","date":"June 22, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mike Stutzer, who recently shared the following listener post: I started SWLing as a teenager. My favorite uncle gave me a Hallicrafters S-120. My dad hung a longwire under an eave and through a casement window frame into my bedroom. I marveled at all\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Hallicrafters-S-120.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Hallicrafters-S-120.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Hallicrafters-S-120.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Hallicrafters-S-120.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16644,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/01\/avengers-age-of-ultron-scene-is-that-a-hallicrafters-receiver\/","url_meta":{"origin":13193,"position":2},"title":"Avengers ‘Age of Ultron’ scene: is that a Hallicrafters receiver?","author":"Thomas","date":"January 11, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"With the recent posts about shortwave radio in films (Star Wars and Star Trek),\u00a0I remembered a scene from Avengers: Age of Ultron where I thought I spotted a vintage Hallicrafters receiver. In the scene, Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) is using an \"old school spy method\" to find the whereabouts of Black\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Art"","block_context":{"text":"Art","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/art-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Avengers-Ultron-Hallicrafters-Radios-1","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Avengers-Ultron-Hallicrafters-Radios-1-1024x432.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Avengers-Ultron-Hallicrafters-Radios-1-1024x432.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Avengers-Ultron-Hallicrafters-Radios-1-1024x432.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19102,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/05\/hamvention-find-rare-hallicrafters-sx-11\/","url_meta":{"origin":13193,"position":3},"title":"Hamvention Find: Rare Hallicrafters SX-11","author":"Thomas","date":"May 22, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday, at the Dayton Hamvention Flea Market, a Hallicrafters SX-11 caught my eye. I don't often see the SX-11 in such excellent shape. The seller wanted $500--quite steep for a flea market find. Then I noticed a plaque on the side of the cabinet. This Hallicrafters SX-11 has been in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Hallicrafters-SX-11 - 2","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Hallicrafters-SX-11-2-1024x576.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Hallicrafters-SX-11-2-1024x576.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Hallicrafters-SX-11-2-1024x576.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":33423,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/08\/boat-anchors-at-voice-of-aladdin-arc-columbus-hamfest\/","url_meta":{"origin":13193,"position":4},"title":"Boat Anchors at Voice of Aladdin ARC Columbus Hamfest","author":"Eric","date":"August 7, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"A guest post by Eric McFadden, WD8RIF I had the pleasure of attending the annual Voice of Aladdin Amateur Radio Club's Columbus Hamfest this past weekend, on Saturday, August 4, 2018. The Columbus Hamfest is a smaller, local or regional hamfest but every year when I attend I'm pleasantly surprised\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Boat Anchors"","block_context":{"text":"Boat Anchors","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/boat-anchors-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"1966 Chevrolet pickup-truck (it was for sale)","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/ColumbusHamfest2018_17.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/ColumbusHamfest2018_17.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/ColumbusHamfest2018_17.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/ColumbusHamfest2018_17.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":56941,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/05\/a-hallicrafters-sx-28-a-in-battle-of-the-bulge\/","url_meta":{"origin":13193,"position":5},"title":"A Hallicrafters SX-28\/A in “Battle of the Bulge”","author":"Thomas","date":"May 30, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who writes: Not a false alarm this time -- one of the most striking appearances of a classic shortwave receiver was in Battle of the Bulge, the 1960's movie about the great battle between German and U.S. forces during World War II,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Battle-of-the-Bulge-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Battle-of-the-Bulge-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Battle-of-the-Bulge-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Battle-of-the-Bulge-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13193","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13193"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13193\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13193"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13193"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}