National NCX3

[WB6NVH]

It's not just the NCX-3 that has the rotor blades of the PA capacitor hit the shield of the case before it can completely open.  My NCX-5's do so as well.   I haven't investigated yet but I suspect that part of the rotation is never needed anyway and thus it doesn't matter.  If it does, I was planning on using a ball pein hammer to dent the PA shield upward, although it would pain me to do so...

[kc4umo]

It's not just the NCX-3 that has the rotor blades of the PA capacitor hit the shield of the case before it can completely open.  My NCX-5's do so as well.   I haven't investigated yet but I suspect that part of the rotation is never needed anyway and thus it doesn't matter.  If it does, I was planning on using a ball pein hammer to dent the PA shield upward, although it would pain me to do so...

Thought I had this one solved with that issue. I raised the cage top by 3/16 of an inch, Last night I tried puting the cover on and it was too tight. I did not want to cut, band of beat the case in any way. I am looking at moving the cpacitor down lower next.

[Pete, WA2CWA]

I just left the cage cover off.

[kc4umo]

Good idea Pete. Surely can not hurt anything.

[W2VW]

But that's a modification.

[kc4umo]

But that's a modification.

Dang, you have a point!     ROFL


So my room is coming together with this old junk




Since I have all this in the house I had to set up a small repair station:




I know it is all junk and not the good stuff but it is what I have atm.
Time will make it better.

[W2VW]

None of that stuff is junk.

Your construction skills suggest ability for much heavier items

[kc4umo]

None of that stuff is junk.

Your construction skills suggest ability for much heavier items

Thanks LOL
The main table top is a solid door core setting on 2 steel file cabinets.
The top shelf is made out of a 2x12 wrapped in paneling and supported by 2 2x6 uprights. These are bolted to each other with 4 inch x 1/4 lags. Just stuff I had in the garage left over from a construction project for the wife.
Did not want it to fall apart with these radios on it.

[KD6VXI]

Never having been inside an NCX3, I'm not sure this is viable,  but can you flip said too tall capacitor over?

I've been offered an ncx3 with matching ps,  supposedly working,  so I popped in here...   He wants 250 for it..

--Shane
KD6VXI

[kc4umo]

Never having been inside an NCX3, I'm not sure this is viable,  but can you flip said too tall capacitor over?

I've been offered an ncx3 with matching ps,  supposedly working,  so I popped in here...   He wants 250 for it..

--Shane
KD6VXI

I looked at that and the problem is the connections would be at the top. With means extending wires that I believe  may have critical lengths but I may be wrong. I really have not given it a lot of thought but will look again.
If you like the radio and it is in good shape, 250 may be about tops.

[Pete, WA2CWA]

Never having been inside an NCX3, I'm not sure this is viable,  but can you flip said too tall capacitor over?

I've been offered an ncx3 with matching ps,  supposedly working,  so I popped in here...   He wants 250 for it..

--Shane
KD6VXI

If you flipped the cap over, you would have to move it to the right, along with drilling a new front panel hole, so that blades of the cap didn't hit the left side of the cage. Functionally, as mounted, it shouldn't really be a problem unless you had the tendency to like banging metal to metal.

Personally, I wouldn't pay $250 for a three band NCX-3. Besides being a 50 year old rig with known issues, the AM sounds like crap, the VFO drifts, doesn't have an RIT, and uses sweep tubes that are sometimes hard o get. The rig sold new for $369. My first NCX-3 cost me $20 with no power supply. The second was $50 and came with a power supply. Typically you see them going for $100 to $150. There's one on ebay right now for $112 with no power supply. Actually some of the Hallicrafters, Swan, and Clegg Venus transceiver power supplies would work in place of the National NCX-A power supply. $250 is high unless your very desperate for one of these rigs.

[KD6VXI]

This one has the matching power supply.   He sourced it to increase the value.

I'm thinking I'll pass.   Rather get a Johnson.   More Pout,  better sound,  etc.

Thanks for the input.

--Shane
KD6VXI

[Pete, WA2CWA]

If you're looking for a National transceiver, the NCX-5 is probably the best one acquire. AM still isn't great but the receiver is very good. When I play vintage SSB operating, I always use my NCX-5. On the air reports over the years gave better reports for the transmit audio then my CE 100V.

[MikeKE0ZUinkcmo]

I know it is all junk and not the good stuff but it is what I have atm.
Time will make it better.

Ya got tunes, a scope, and a good generator, don't need much else.:<)

[w1vtp]

Buddy

That HP 8640 ain't no junk!  I remember when they first came into the cal shop.  They created quite a stir.  I "accepted" all the new ones and repaired them when they got cranky    Very few ever got cranky

Al

[kc4umo]

Buddy

That HP 8640 ain't no junk!  I remember when they first came into the cal shop.  They created quite a stir.  I "accepted" all the new ones and repaired them when they got cranky    Very few ever got cranky

Al

I have to agree. I love the 8640b, probably more than my IFR1200s.
This thing is rock solid. And I only gave 100 bucks for it local. (100 miles).
Now if you care to watch my boring videos on fixing this unit here they are. Now I am no video producer, just a redneck country boy...

Good to know there is someone that knows these units.

Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQrnKrwrBqE

part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym3X7VNS0uw

part 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecminz1S3Qw