Hallicrafters S-40B Ham shortwave tube type receiver repair How to recap and test step by step

True Classic. I have had many. Always let them slip away. This one is very clean and unmolested. So, D-Lab presents repair of the classic S-40B. This receiver is usually overlooked as a low end performer. Well, after some precise maintenance, it is a great performer! Yes, it lacks selectivity/filtering. However, for the SW listener or prepper, it meets the requirements. I spent many hours getting this one ready for prime time. More will be featured soon!

[@sambillingsley6379]

A ham friend at local ham meeting gave me his father’s S-40 (circa 1946). This one is before the 40A or 40B. I recapped and changed a few out of tolerance resistors. Added Heathkit Q-multiplier and muting relay driven from my DowKey TR relay and my Heathkit DX-40. Works great. Sam AE4GX

[@sambillingsley6379]

I forgot to mention that I fused the S-40 and the DX-40. Sure don’t want to destroy a power transformer. Sam AE4GX

[@kc8aro66]

I saw the video when purchased and now the video after. You are a great tech and your passion shows, 73 till next time.

[@vtradio]

The Hallicrafters S-40B is the first receiver I ever recapped. It came out really well (like yours). I made a before video, but never got around to posting the recap video. I still have the footage around here somewhere. I must get around to that. 73 Paul AA1SU

[@skullheadwater9839]

I got one of those for about $30 about 6 years ago before the great price increase pandemonium happened. I was dead but all I did was change that 20-watt brown wire round resistor which was blown open and the filters and it works perfect to this day. Worked so well I was afraid to do a full recap because I figured it would end up throwing it off and I would have to go through the complex alignment process. It is such a cool looking receiver with the glowing green dials and black flip top case. PS, the dial strings are a pain in the A$$

[@michaelmurray3422]

A friend of mine gave me this exact model as yours, and I recaped it also. I had to change out a few resistors, and these had flat ribbon type wires on them. I did test the replaced caps on mine, and some were fair, and the rest were in very bad shape. I still had no signal getting thru, and found that for some reason one of the IF cans had burned one of the winding wires off inside. Thats when I found out that I had mica disease, and one of the capacitors was shorted. I fixed the burned wire, but the internal capacitores are rivited in. After a lot of work, I got them out, and put trimmer caps on the input and output on the underside if the cans. After the tunning proc., I had a very good working radio. Was a lot of fun in the long run, rebuilding it. I learned a great deal working on it. These are really great working radios. I watched the You Tube on the place where you got your radio. We have some Swap Meets, but not as many as you all have. The only problem as some people were there for fun, and the rest were selling to make a living, and the prices showed it. Way too expensive for even the Junk.

[@mikebracey8832]

Thanks Terry. It's always a worthwhile project to rescue a classic Halli.

[@MrShotlighter]

Many years ago (about 40) I had one of these sets fry the mains transformer, after one of those wax caps went s/c. They ain't got any younger, so leave 'em in at your peril!

[@Tom-W7TMD]

always fun to watch. I was just given a Hammarlund SP-200 and the external power supply. D-Labs keeps me inspired to fix Old Gear! Thanks Terry!

[@hestheMaster]

Damn good job Terry. Did it right and got great results and without any problems.

[@rciancia]

Well done Terry !!!! She is a good performer for sure. Excellent Job !!!!

[@rohnkd4hct260]

Beautiful radio! I had one and sold it, wish I didn’t.

[@josephmagedanz4070]

Thanks for the demonstration and tips!

[@danrussell9357]

Great Video - Enjoyed the explanations!

[@anthonymokelkie9360]

I can tell its working pretty good.

[@mikefinn2101]

You are just an amazing tech and do wonderful things for us ham. Terry love you channel. 73s Mike wb7qxu

[@mirrar01]

Sounds good!

[@victormontuori8208]

Your the best Terry

[@624radicalham]

I was always curious, how's the ssb drift on these model? Does it ever really go away after a while Also you're right the bands have been down. Unusual and unfortunate to even say that near the peak of a sunspot cycle. Alot of solar activity and constant flares, I get it. But I hope it's not a damaged magnetosphere, as some have speculated, which would mean propagation has forever been changed.

[@624radicalham]

Always so inspirational. I still say you need your image on a coffee mug lol ... also I'm lucky to get first comment!

[@d-labelectronics]

Thank you Sir!

[@mikesmuseum]

I've worked on models S-40A, B, SX-100, S-38A-E, etc. The first thing I do is get it proper schematic for the radio I'm working on. The second thing I do is remove all the tubes and test each one. If one is faulty I get a replacement. ( The second thing I do is remove all the electrolytic filter capacitors and replace all those.

[@dennisperusse3837]

Great video. My S-40b has band 4 that’s dead as a door knocker. Could you do a segment on how to test band 4 and what tools would be needed to do so.

[@d-labelectronics]

Yep, will do

[@dennisperusse3837]

@@d-labelectronics Thank you so much. I sincerely appreciate it. :)

[@d-labelectronics]

Private link to the Band test kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3mZqGmGpauSncU

[@JackKC8QPG]

Great Information ! What type of Capacitors did you use to replace the Paper Capacitors?

[@d-labelectronics]

Made by IC Illinois Capacitor. I get them thru Mouser

[@mackfisher4487]

Nice job receiver unlike some of the Hallicafters its not AC/DC like my old SX-22R.

[@krowbar1969]

Terry, how do you clean the chassis?? What do you use and method?

[@d-labelectronics]

I used lacquer thinner with paper tower + Q-tips

[@royarchibald6392]

I have a S-40a I picked up from an estate sale. I was planning on trying to R&R it but after looking I realized I didn't inherit my father's radio repair ability.

[@davidsheedy5793]

great video, you got a great deal on this radio. Why is it that band 4 on some of the Halicrafters are silent?

[@dennisperusse3837]

Usually a coil issue.

[@d-labelectronics]

See this band test vid kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3mZqGmGpauSncU

[@Roadrunner48]

you should have cleaned the knobs aswell ! Anyhow it`s a nice historic receiver. 73 de df8??

[@d-labelectronics]

Yes, They were cleaned & the front panel waxed. Another video will follow

[@richysradioroom]

👍

[@philipdecatanzaro1822]

Where do you get those little boards to replace the metal cap?

[@johnwest7993]

I have to disagree that having a pin break on an IF can ruins the receiver. A broken pin is really no big deal. I've repaired all sorts of problems with numerous IF cans, including replacing shorted caps found inside the IF cans of S-40B's.

[@W3KW]

Maybe. But not easy for some. Pretty risky operation?

[@chrishoffman6537]

Terry you gonna let that go?

[@d-labelectronics]

When I'm complete with the vids, you have 1st dibs

[@dhpbear2]

0:38 - Those knobs look CHINTZY :(

[@d-labelectronics]

They are solid bakelite, not cheap at all