The AM Forum

Can anyone tell me where I can purchase at leat 2 (white ceramic crystal holder for the FT243 crystals). The last ones I saw were at a ham fest and I did not pickup the correct ones.

Thanks John
W9BFO ???

John,

Do you want xtal holders or xtal sockets?  The FT-243 type xtal sockets are pretty common, as are the ones for the smaller pin HC-6U type xtals.  In a pinch, you can also use a standard octal type tube socket and use a couple of the pins.

There are several on-line sources for parts and you should be able to find the sockets.  If you don't, maybe I can come up with a couple for you.

73,  Jack, W9GT

The octal tube sockets will hold two crystals. I believe FT-243 crystal sockets are no longer manufactured. This guy has some FT-243 sockets (not white):
http://danscloseoutsandspecialdeals.com/oddsandends.html

Here is something that might be of interest:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ceramic-transmitter-receiver-radio-crystal-sockets_W0QQitemZ140337437329QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item20acc35a91&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

those are for HC-6U xtals

For the holders, you  can take apart about any old useless FT-243 military crystal at some oddball frequency and replace the original crystal with the new quartz plate.

When I have a crystal apart I usually clean the crystal and electrode plates with a good degreaser or denatured alcohol.

Real old timers would tell you the best thing for cleaning crystals is Vodka.
I knew a girl who went into a place where crystals were manufactured and didn't take the job because there was a bottle on each bench and she thought the place was full of drunks.

Carbon tetrachloride used to be the cleaner of choice until it was taken off the market.  There is a degreaser that I bought a few years ago at Lowe's that is the closest thing to carbon tet I have been able find; even the smell is similar.  I think it is called Electro-clean, and comes in a spray can.  They say it is designed for cleaning electric motors.  It does a good job with the xtals.  It also takes all the grease off your fingers, leaving the skin with a white, chalky appearance.

My mind boggles how we can go from a request for a piece of hardware to the cleaning of  crystal innards.
The original poster requested info on crystal sockets or holders. He has yet to respond to that query. Crystal holders are the metal (or otherwise) housings that the crystal innards go into. The crystal socket is what the crystal plugs into.

Anyway, this Company also has FT-243 crystal sockets listed:
http://www.oselectronics.com/ose_p68.htm

(http://www.oselectronics.com/Images/pg_68/cs243.jpg)

You might also try Bry, AF4K, who is a member of this board. He has been involved in crystal and crystal accessories redeployment  :) for a number of years.
http://www.af4k.com/crystals.htm

Hexane is the new cleaner of choice.

I believe that's what's in the "Electro-Clean" I bought at Fryes....  With a bunch of other stuff, but Hexane boils off at room temp, if you spray it onto a mirror, it leaves no or little residue (it's the propellant that does).

If you want to find it cheap, and in liquid form, they sell it at artists supply stores.  GREAT solvent, they use it for cleaning canvas and other mediums painters use.


--Shane

Sorry I did not think of crystal sockets and holders as being the same what I want is a (crystal socket) to plug my FT243 crystals into and mount one on each one of my KNIGHT T150's.

Thanks
John W9BFO

PS. I think with the great help you guys have given me I will find some. :)

Sorry: I missed the ebay crystals they were just what I needed. Dose anyone have 2 white ceramic (FT243) crystal sockets they would sell.

Thanks John
W9BFO

Still need to know where I can come  up with FT 243 crystal socket.

John W9BFO :D

Did you try the sources in the previous responses?

I have tried them all but still batting (0).

John W9BFO