Heathkit HW-16 Teardown and Rebuild

Рет қаралды 4,336

3 ай бұрын

The Heathkit HW-16 transceiver (1967-1976) makes a great restoration project. It's not a complicated rig, the PC board is simple and nicely organized, and the chassis can really sparkle when stripped and treated. Most of these rigs are in woeful condition, spending years (decades) in barns, sheds and closets. Given the relative simplicity of the circuit, troubleshooting is fairly straightforward.
In this video, I take an eBay acquisition in BAD condition, strip it down to the chassis and rebuild it according to the manual. This rig had the coveted copper-clad chassis, but was so badly pitted that I had to sand it down to the sheet metal. I show how to restore the lettering on the back using decals. I committed a few typical assembly errors, enough to provide some troubleshooting examples. End result is a rig with great reception and full output. A real beauty.
PDF of the decals shown in the video: drive.google.com/file/d/1HlzC...
I don't check comments/replies very often, so for queries reach out to me via QRZ. And yes, I do repair Heathkit rigs. Reach out for more info.
73 N5OLA

Пікірлер: 30

@mmlanger55 Ай бұрын

As a kid in the early 70's I built the DX-60B, the HW-101 and helped friends build their HW-16's. You are bringing back many wonderful memories. Thanks for the excellent video documentation. Your work is an art. I am still in possession of my HW-101 but it stay cold. Love to watch your work.

@JCHaywire 3 ай бұрын

You are utterly insane! W0XO here. I like restoring Audio Oscillators and Function Generators, Eico and Heathkit. Your work, though, puts mine to shame. You're so thorough--and talk about a labor of love. Wow. I noticed your desoldering leaves much of the original solder behind--which is very kind to the PCB lamination. You also use a cooler iron than I do. Again--probably much better for those traces. I just can't say enough about your excellent work, OM. I'll keep up my "restorations" anyway, but you establish yourself as a master here. Best 73, Jonathan. ditdit

@N5OLA 3 ай бұрын

Wow, much appreciated. I'm still learning so much, but loving every minute of it.

@dandypoint 2 ай бұрын

Great work. I am working on fixing up a HW-22A I built in the late 60s. Also have a HW-12. I saw a couple single Banders on your shelf. Hope you do videos on those! 73, N4DJ

@conservative599 2 ай бұрын

Great Video, I noted each of the restoration techniques and interesting materials Will used! Unfortunately my 1944 Hallicrafters SX-28A has a very blackened chassis underside, and the cadmium plating I wet sanded wont clean up, and no bottom cover nor Art Deco case came with it. So I may go with the Krylon Metallic recommendation AND the KOALA decals but Laser printers are not that common. My real reason to comment is I built a new HW-16 for my best friend from Newton NJ HS ARC where we both started out in 1969. The rig was fun, but I added an EXTRA IF stage, just buying the parts at Heathkit in NYC, and mounted it in the RX IF area. WORKED GREAT, and one night we actually heard an eerie signal coming over the North Pole from a research station in Novosibersk RUSSIA, and quickly reground our nearest XTAL, dried it off and made the contact... I am still working at 70 in EMI/EMC, Reliability and Certification of 400G Optical Networking equipment, building and fixing stuff as needed thanks to 55 years of Ham Radio and Servicing experience. PS: How did you CLEAN the tubes, and not the markings? I saw the excellent Elecronics Old And New and Mikrowave1 YT videos use Deoxit and some dental cleaners on tube sockets and brass wire brush the pins. 73s Hilary W4HDL

@BrianMoore-uk6js 2 ай бұрын

Very nice restoration, very nice receiver!!! Really enjoyed this video. Nothing is better than a clean, aligned, and functional receiver. Maybe consider getting an AC Variac for the first power on. It might prevent some fireworks. 🙂

@opsprey3 2 ай бұрын

A great restoration of a HW-16. It and works and work fantastic. Well done. This model was my first transmit capable radio after I got my Novice license in the late 70s. I also had the external vfo which kept me from needing to the crystals for the transmit frequency. Thanks for sharing this restoration Will.

@cwguy8960 3 ай бұрын

Looks and sounds GREAT! Nice job Will! I'm hanging on to my HW-16 I bought used in 1981 as a novice - hope to restore that sometime myself. This video was the tutorial I needed! 73, N0DET

@Q26Video 26 күн бұрын

Really interesting and helpful video. Many thanks and 73

@JJ-el8li 2 ай бұрын

Will - Yet another great video demonstrating care for these old rigs. I always look forward to your videos!

@mikefinn2101 3 ай бұрын

Great video loved the issues and how you solved them great Troubleshooting

@kenanshobbies9970 3 ай бұрын

Another great Heathkit restoration video, Will! I’m quickly becoming a fan and always enjoy your videos. I can’t wait to start digging into my DX-35 (from when I was a Novice). 73!

@frantech6935 3 ай бұрын

I saw that on Ebay and didn't buy it because I was concerned the chassis wouldn't be able to be restored. I have a couple of HW-16s but I will buy a copper one someday. Thanks for the video.

@fourfortyroadrunner6701 2 ай бұрын

NEVER have I been enamored with Heathkit and their PC board/ vacuum tubes combo. On some equipment, just the heat from larger tubes can deteriorate the board, solder joints, and traces. The use of compactron like tubes in some of their equipment is particularly annoying. I am 75. First licensed in 65, general in summer of 66

@joeburch9515 3 ай бұрын

Hi William - very nice work, as usual. I had an HW-16 that I was starting to modify for true transceive operation so an outboard VFO would not be needed. I was following an old article from 73 magazine (I think) and got it working but the output had some 'spurs' as the design was flawed. I was going to redesign the circuitry using proper double balanced mixers and perhaps work up a printed circuit board when everything was finalized but have yet to get around to it. 73's - Joe - K3JLS

@davidkerl1431 2 ай бұрын

Really enjoyed the video! Dave N9HF

@JackKC8QPG 3 ай бұрын

Great Video and Information !!

@sciencefollower 3 ай бұрын

Very much appreciated please.

@redfields5070 2 ай бұрын

I'm looking for a young guy to take my Heathkit VTVM. It works great. I built it when I was16 years old, in 1968. I've never restored it, never really needed to. I lost the plastic probe somewhere along the way. I want to give it to someone who will appreciate what it is. I will ship it to you, free of charge. Steve KF5RGH

@carloslobo7224 2 ай бұрын

Muito bom parabéns. 73´s.

@stephennickerson7685 2 ай бұрын

Excelent video, How did you clean the knobs? Could you put some RTV caulking compound in the grommet where the power cord goes through? It might help hold the cord in place.

@redfields5070 2 ай бұрын

My bench doesn't look that good when it's cleaned up.

@johnbellas490 3 ай бұрын

Hello I received my Novice license in 1968 ish and we used one of these HW 16 units on for our transceiver at Wallkill N.Y. middle school!! The exam was headed by my sixth grade teacher a Mr Charles Stantial of Maybrook N.Y. who went SK a long time ago! I was wondering if that plated copper chassis was on an early or a late edition of this series HW 16 ?? Nice resto on this one! I too used Hayseed as my base start on my project unit

@N5OLA 3 ай бұрын

John, I have an unbuilt HW-16 still in the box with an invoice inside dated 1975 and it has the copper-clad chassis. I'm guessing that at some point HK switched TO copper-clad when they realized the copper traces on the board did not react well to sheet metal. 1975 was toward the end of its lifecycle.

@johnbellas490 3 ай бұрын

Yes that is interesting because that is my graduating year from High school. Our club was able to use this small station up until 1975 anyway. Those who received our tickets was able to go back to middle school to operate the station after H.S hours! The club had 18 start and 16 of us got our tickets! including two young ladies!!!