Has anyone on this group had any experience in performing maintenance on a
General Radio Type 1606A RF Bridge? The "Reactance" capacitor on my 1606A
is a bit intermittent (noisy) when tuning the bridge after initial balance
in order to make a measurement. The bridge is in nearly mint condition and
probably suffers from lack of regular use more than anything. I am hesitant
to jump in and apply standard electrical cleaning chemicals without
obtaining some advice from those of you that have experience with this
bridge and that may have had to clean a noisy variable cap in one of these
units.

Any recommendations would be appreciated including any suggestions on where
to send such an instrument repair and calibration service. Sorry for asking
these questions here, but I know that more than a few of you either have a
1606A/B or may have had one at one time or another.

Thank you,

Bill

William G. Becks, WA8WG

On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 10:40:25 -0600, "William Becks"
wrote:

Any recommendations would be appreciated including any suggestions on where
to send such an instrument repair and calibration service.

Hi William,

You already defined the cu Use it more.

For calibration, there is not much that can be done except to compare
to standards (you won't have them). This would have to be done at a
primary or secondary Metrology lab, an instrument repair shop might
claim the capability, but without certificates of traceability you
would be paying for a job they didn't do.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

"Richard Clark" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 10:40:25 -0600, "William Becks"
wrote:

Any recommendations would be appreciated including any suggestions on
where
to send such an instrument repair and calibration service.

Hi William,

You already defined the cu Use it more.

For calibration, there is not much that can be done except to compare
to standards (you won't have them). This would have to be done at a
primary or secondary Metrology lab, an instrument repair shop might
claim the capability, but without certificates of traceability you
would be paying for a job they didn't do.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

Ive found that a tiny drop of DeOxit at the spring where the shaft contacts
the frame on most capacitors does wonders. Dont get carried away with it all
you need is just a little bit and dont get it on the plates.

On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 10:40:25 -0600, "William Becks"
wrote:

Has anyone on this group had any experience in performing maintenance on a
General Radio Type 1606A RF Bridge? The "Reactance" capacitor on my 1606A
is a bit intermittent (noisy) when tuning the bridge after initial balance
in order to make a measurement. The bridge is in nearly mint condition and
probably suffers from lack of regular use more than anything. I am hesitant
to jump in and apply standard electrical cleaning chemicals without
obtaining some advice from those of you that have experience with this
bridge and that may have had to clean a noisy variable cap in one of these
units.

Any recommendations would be appreciated including any suggestions on where
to send such an instrument repair and calibration service. Sorry for asking
these questions here, but I know that more than a few of you either have a
1606A/B or may have had one at one time or another.

Thank you,

Bill

William G. Becks, WA8WG

Hi Bill,

I've used my 1606, both A and B for many years, the A since 1968. I've found
that when the unit has been unused for several weeks, all the controls become a
little scratchy. But what works for me is just a little back-and-forth twisting
cleans whatever surfaces were dirty, and scratchiness disappears without needing
to apply any lubricant.

Walt, W2DU