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Snakedr
New member Username: Snakedr
Post Number: 7 Registered: 11-2005
| Posted on Monday, December 05, 2005 - 8:23 pm: |
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My brother-in-law and I used to be into talking on base stations alot about 15 years ago. I went through a divorce and had to sell most of my equiptment but he has kept his over the years. I was thinking about getting back into it and asked if he would like to start again. He said that he didn't know what shape his equiptment was in but would like to blow off the dust and give it a try. His current set up is a Cobra 2000 GTL, a JB-12 driver into a palomar 300 A, D-104 Desk Mike, Moonraker Fours at about 60'. This equiptment has been covered up with a blanket in his basement for about 10 years. What type of preventitive maintenance should he do before firing it back up if any? Thanks in advance for your help. Mike |
Road_warrior
Senior Member Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 1024 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Monday, December 05, 2005 - 10:01 pm: |
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Hopefully the cellar was not to damp. If so, place equipment in a dry place for awhile. Knobs will probably need sprayed with some type of contact cleaner as dirt/dust tends to settle in them. Good Luck! JIM/PA/CEF 375 |
Hotwire
Advanced Member Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 721 Registered: 1-2005
| Posted on Monday, December 12, 2005 - 9:26 am: |
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If he kept it all covered up and DRY I don't see any problems. Maybe check the coax and connectors for oxidation or corrosion. Look for dried out and cracked places on the coax. Maybe even start with fresh coax just to get off on the right foot! Get that stuff going and fire up that JB 12 before whats left of the skip is gone!!! |
Kid_vicious
Advanced Member Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 935 Registered: 9-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 3:44 pm: |
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i would say that a rotor box that hasnt turned in 10 years will need some attention. (IE: grease) i would undo, clean, and redo all the coax connections, blow the dust off any tubes etc. and fire up the amp on standby for awhile. let all the equipment sit in the ON position for awhile before keying up. dont forget to replace the battery in that D104! tell your friend to get on this board too. matt |
Wildrat
Intermediate Member Username: Wildrat
Post Number: 475 Registered: 12-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 5:57 pm: |
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If I were him, I'd just forget about getting back into CB, tell him to get his HAM ticket. Tell him also to send me the Cobra 2000 since he won't need it anymore. If there is any problems with it I will fix them. WildRat semi seriously just ck all the wiring for problems, I would suspect that rotor will be a problem. I would before putting any power to the rotor is take it down clen it up, grease it up make sure it's not rusted together, and test it on the ground. May be a pain, but it might save some bucks. |
Wolverine
Advanced Member Username: Wolverine
Post Number: 577 Registered: 2-2003
| Posted on Thursday, December 15, 2005 - 3:02 am: |
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Hopefully, your brother in law resides in the rural part of the nation, away from the city. 15 years ago in San Francisco, you could see moonraker 4's and 6's, flat side beams, ground planes etc.,all over the place, and on every other house on the block and it was no problem. Things have changed drastically. 15 years later (Today) you will very seldom see any antennas on any house, due to neighbors complaining of electronic interference to their telephones,computers, televisions, etc. Home owners association will not allow any dishes or antennas on houses, even if you bought the house out right ( they consider it an deviant eyesore). So if you got plenty acres of land around you, or live on a farm, you are very lucky and fortunate indeed. We city dwellers use our mobiles as base stations. Other than that, I would follow Kid Vicious, and Hotwire's suggestions above. Good advice, since you run tubes, and not transistors. Wolverine. |
Snakedr
Junior Member Username: Snakedr
Post Number: 11 Registered: 11-2005
| Posted on Thursday, December 15, 2005 - 10:04 am: |
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Thanks guys for all the input. Since I posted this thread my brother-in-law has fired back up. The radio worked fine for a few transmissions but now the radio is locked in the on the air position. We took it to the local tech last night and he said that he could have it fixed by this evening. As for everything else, it seems to be doing fine. His call name is Nature Boy out of Southeastern VA. HE should be up and running by this weekend so if you hear him in there, give him a shout. Tell him that Snake Dr sent you. Thanks guys. |
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