Hello everyone...

I have just purchased (10 bucks) a Lafayette HA-230 receiver.

Person I purchased it from says that it belonged to his dad and it worked fine when his dad used it seven years ago.

His dad died and he has had it stored for the seven years.

He says that he plugged it in and it lights up but he could not get it to receive. It did not appear to me however that he knew how to use it.

I would like some advice from you guys here that have used/worked on this model receiver.

After sitting for seven years, what should I do to the unit before trying to use it myself?

I did plug it in and the lights do come on, but I did not hook it up to an antenna. I wanted to check for scratchy switches on the front panel.

I found a couple that need to be cleaned and I read in a post last night that the band selector switch should be cleaned as well.

I am also wondering if there are any "known caps" (or other parts) that should be replaced right off the bat?

I am not a tech but have done minor repairs to CB radio equipment for many years. Things like replacing drivers, finals, caps, protection diodes, LED panels and the like.

I have no injection equipment or scopes, just my trusty VOM's. And of course, a dozen or so good soldering/desoldering irons.

May I please have your comments/advise/suggestions on obvious things to do before I start using the radio?

Thank you very much for your time and help,
John

PS - What specs would be ok to use for an antenna just for testing and working on it, before I put up a full blown 100' antenna?

On 3/19/2012 1:20 PM, JohnD wrote:
Hello everyone...

I have just purchased (10 bucks) a Lafayette HA-230 receiver.

Person I purchased it from says that it belonged to his dad and it
worked fine when his dad used it seven years ago.

His dad died and he has had it stored for the seven years.

He says that he plugged it in and it lights up but he could not get it
to receive. It did not appear to me however that he knew how to use it.

I would like some advice from you guys here that have used/worked on
this model receiver.

Never worked on this specific radio, but generic free advice cheerfully
given -- and worth every penny! :-)

After sitting for seven years, what should I do to the unit before
trying to use it myself?

Absolutely the first thing you do is download and read the free
instruction manual available from this site:

http://bama.edebris.com/manuals/lafayett/ha230/

Read the part about "How to operate" before you do anything else; it
could be something as simple as the "receive-standby" switch (if so
equipped) being in the standby position or something else equally as simple.

I did plug it in and the lights do come on, but I did not hook it up to
an antenna. I wanted to check for scratchy switches on the front panel.

Try an antenna; just a 10 foot hunk of wire across the floor should
suffice for testing. If this radio covers the MW broadcast band, try it
there first, tuned to a local station.

I found a couple that need to be cleaned and I read in a post last night
that the band selector switch should be cleaned as well.

I am also wondering if there are any "known caps" (or other parts) that
should be replaced right off the bat?

I am not a tech but have done minor repairs to CB radio equipment for
many years. Thinks like replacing drivers, finals, caps, protection
diodes, LED panels and the like.

I have no injection equipment or scopes, just my trusty VOM's. And of
course, a dozen or so good soldering irons.

If still no joy, try removing and re-seating each tube. Make sure no
tubes are missing, dark or in the wrong socket.

Next, use your VOM to check for B+ at various places around the rig,
using the schematic you downloaded above.

Generic troubleshooting tips...

Put your finger on the GRID of the first audio stage and then the audio
output stage. You should hear a hum in the speaker if the audio stage is
working (this radio DOES have an internal speaker, right?). BEFORE you
put your finger on the GRID of the audio *output* stage, use your VOM to
make sure the voltage on the grid is very low or slightly negative. If
the interstage coupling capacitor is leaky, a lot of the B+ from the
first audio stage will be present and give you a shock. MEASURE FIRST.

With the HA-230 set for the broadcast band, you can use a separate AM
transistor radio to see if the oscillator is working.

That should give you a few ideas to start with.

Good luck and let us know what you find.

On 3/19/12 12:20 , JohnD wrote:
Hello everyone...

I have just purchased (10 bucks) a Lafayette HA-230 receiver.

Person I purchased it from says that it belonged to his dad and it
worked fine when his dad used it seven years ago.

His dad died and he has had it stored for the seven years.

He says that he plugged it in and it lights up but he could not get it
to receive. It did not appear to me however that he knew how to use it.

I would like some advice from you guys here that have used/worked on
this model receiver.

After sitting for seven years, what should I do to the unit before
trying to use it myself?

I did plug it in and the lights do come on, but I did not hook it up to
an antenna. I wanted to check for scratchy switches on the front panel.



Actually, it takes some signal to verify scratchy switches and
pots. Unless there's DC on the volume control, if there's no audio,
ther won't be any significant scratchy noise. If there's no signal,
you won't know if the switches are closing, or not. So, hook up the
antenna, and at least get some atmospheric noise going so you have a
real idea where things really lie.


I found a couple that need to be cleaned and I read in a post last night
that the band selector switch should be cleaned as well.

Absolutely. The radio has been sitting unused for years. Switch
contacts, unmoved, oxidize. Depending on configuration, you may only
need to get a signal into the radio, and move the bandswitch a few
times to bring things to life. Before you go spraying into the
works, you may wish to try that. Many sprays will cause a detuning
of some higher frequency circuits.




I am also wondering if there are any "known caps" (or other parts) that
should be replaced right off the bat?

At this age, filter caps can go. In fact, you'll probably
discover that nearly all electrolytics can be replaced. On this
vintage rig, I also replace all foil and paper caps, with Sprague
Orange drops. The improvement in caps will result in a corresponding
improvement in performance. Especially audio.

Also, it's a good idea to replace any ceramic discs with
temperature compensated metalized polystyrene, polypropylene or
teflon caps. Especially in audio circuits. Ceramic discs are just
terrible capacitors.



I am not a tech but have done minor repairs to CB radio equipment for
many years. Thinks like replacing drivers, finals, caps, protection
diodes, LED panels and the like.


You have more than enough experience to get you started.


I have no injection equipment or scopes, just my trusty VOM's. And of
course, a dozen or so good soldering irons.


If you can find a Sams Photofact, or a schematic on a site like
Mods.dk, you can get all the data you need to touch up the
alignment. Ideally, a calibrated signal or marker generator would be
a basic tool, but if you can get your antenna connected, and get a
readable signal, WWV will be an excellent frequency standard for
alignment. Start at the last IF and work your way forward. A
broadcast station will also have good, though not always excellent
frequency calibration, or stability, but zeroing in on the carrier
is a practical solution, absent the desired tools.


May I please have your comments/advise/suggestions on obvious things to
do before I start using the radio?


Check the tubes, too. You won't find a tube checker in a Radio
Shack, or a drug store, anymore, but a well establised TV repair
shop will have one. They'll be glad to test them, and may be able to
sell you necessary replacements.

If you can't find anyone to help you with this, you can always
find a Hickock tube tester, or a TV7/U on eBay or craigslist for a
practical sum.



Thank you very much for your time and help,
John

PS - What specs would be ok to use for an antenna just for a testing and
working on before I put up a full blown 100' antenna?


100' may be overkill, but it will get you some atmospheric noise.
For testing, 20-30 feet of wire, worked against an earth ground
will be more than enough.