Hickok 6000 Tube Tester Repair and Restoration

[@jenniferedwards7627]

Hello, thank you for posting this video. I perform Hickok 539A,B, and C restoration and calibrations. Someone just sent me a 6000A to restore and I was searching for visual reference to back up the calibration manual. You helped me to identify where the various bits are located. Also I enjoy your casual presentation style. Jenny

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@donmoore7785]

I would like to restore my 6000 and this video is very helpful - just one example is removing the paper roll to protect it.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Its a great tube tester.

[@HH-gd2cb]

So I just bought a Hickok 6000a After watching your videos thinking it is a 6000 with a transistor tester Like you say maybe a transitional unit Anyways eventhough the cord is very dry Did turn it on and it powers up After watching your post Decided to not rebuilt the 6000 Over my ability to fix Selling now on an auction site Thanks for an interesting post

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Glad I could be of assistance

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Glad I could be of assistance

[@ms4sman]

Quick question, I bought a Hickok 6000 but have not received it yet. I'm wanting to get the capacitors ordered for it now so I have them when it arrives. Was the film capacitor 0.5 uf @ 200v or 5 uf @ 200v. I couldn't tell from the view I got of your replacement, and the manual I have lists it as 5 but I think 0.5 makes more sense so I'm wondering if the manual has a typo. The schematic I have also doesn't seem to even show the electrolytic cap across the meter so I don't know how accurate the info I have is. Does the schematic you had show it?

[@va3dxv]

The small inline socket is for tubes like the Raytheon CK5829. Pencil tubes and other sub-minis. The tiny round one would fit something like a 6021

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Good to know, thanx for sharing. I do not use these types of tubes, generally ones for HiFI Guitar amps and ham radios.

[@va3dxv]

Same here... I got a bunch of pencil and acorn/peanut tubes in a stash I brought home, otherwise I probably never would have given any thought about them myself. Many of them were for use in VHF/UHF mobile service. There's some that can be used for audio too of course... I always thought it would be cool to build a guitar pedal around one. :)

[@JWimpy]

I know this is an older video but I am just now coming across it. Very interesting video. I have the Hickok 600A and love it. You have a tube socket cleaning brush. It looks to have been sold for that purpose. These are available at any drug store in the dental care department for cheap. Although not as long of a handle but have a very small diameter bristol tip that works great. I have used them for years on radio tube sockets.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

I dont know if mine was designed for that purpose, it was given to me by a co worker. I'm sure though from the tube audio web sites its similar to the ones at an apothecary at considerable markup.

[@goodun2974]

A set of paint-sprayer cleaning tips is available from Harbor Freight for just a couple of bucks. They're okay for cleaning tube sockets, but, they don't really remove heavy oxidation as is often seen on old tube-electronics equipment, especially if the equipment was exposed to heat and humidity, stored in an attic, basement, garage or barn (peeling Tolex is an obvious indication). For cleaning miniature sockets, I use a wound guitar string, .036 to .039 diameter, worked up and down inside the contacts like a miniature round file, followed by flushing with pure alcohol or similar non-residue solvent. I do NOT recommend spraying sockets, or switches, with DeOxit or other contact cleaners that leave lubricants behind, because it risks creating permanent current-leakage paths. Alan Douglas covered this in his book "Tube Testers and Classic Test, and in some conversations I had with him. For cleaning the rotary switches, best to apply miniscule droplets of cleaner exactly and only where needed with a dental pick, toothpick, miniature Q-tip, or similar. That other guy who mentioned his Hickoks' shorts' lamp staying on all the time might indeed have cleaned his testers' switches and controls with a heavy application of DeOxit. If the switch wafers are phenolic, they may have absorbed enough cleaner to become conductive. Spraying them with alcohol might or might not help. Ceramic switch wafers aren't absorbent, and flushing with alcohol *might* fix them.....

[@Tysman909]

Those plastic film caps arnt polarized but if you hook them up to oscilloscope they do block noise better going one direction then the other way

[@stephencastro1437]

I have a question for you. Is the calibration the same process for the 800 model? I picked up a Hickok 800 in near mint condition. All screws holding the top plate are original, so it doesn't look like it's been messed with. I removed the top plate and one of the tubes was broken type 83 (glass), so I got a replacement for it. Other than that, it's like new and no broken or questionable solder points. Can I follow your calibration for my 800 unit? Thanks.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

No the process for the 800 is different, but there is substantial documentation online for that model.

[@stephencastro1437]

@@retrotechandelectronics I 2was hoping it was the same. Oh well. Thank you for your timely responce. It ois greatly appreciated.

[@tjasont1]

and u should never spray phenolic board with deoxit a qtip and the only the metal contacts should be deoxited as it can soak in and cause deformation of the phenolic but you did go sparingly hopefully you'll be ok

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Well, it’s been working great for a few years. I may be out of the woods yet.

[@rwtaylor356]

Those 2 small sockets are for subminiature tubes, not any transistor, so no transitional models.

[@ThomasACarlos]

Thanks for the video. You mentioned replacing the tube sockets. Is there a supplier for these sockets? The standard sockets with their mounting wings would never fit. I too have this same Hickok and a B&K 707. Thanks in advance.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

I think tubesandmore.com

[@SuperJV4x]

another question if you don't mind - there are what look like mini wooden spools with thread in the circuit. Do you know what those are? resistors? thanks again - edit: the thread is wound on the spool, like thread on a sewing machine bobbin

[@retrotechandelectronics]

I am not sure exactly what you mean

[@goodun2974]

On some models, Hickok did indeed use custom-made wirewound resistors, thin cloth covered wires on wooden spools. Often located right near the front right-side corner of the tester and it's possible to catch the spools on the wooden tester case as you disassemble it, damaging the spool resistors, so be careful! The spools might be marked as to their resistance value. I suspect that Hickok adjusted the resistance of the spools individually in order to fine-tune the calibration of the drive signal to the tube grid. I suppose they could be replaced with precision resistors but finding them in the necessary values, or adding resistors in series to make the required value, could be tricky.

[@SuperJV4x]

on my hicock 533, the shorts light seems to come on for every tube which I know most are good - any idea of where I might look for problems?thanks

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Get out the schematic, you have an internal short.

[@SuperJV4x]

@@retrotechandelectronics thanks. got it

[@Tysman909]

Where you buy that brush I bought a kit from amazon but it's terrible and it's not a metal brush either

[@retrotechandelectronics]

It was given to be as a gift, but I think I saw them on one of the tubeaudio websites.

[@Tysman909]

@@retrotechandelectronics ok thanks

[@Tysman909]

I found that brush on amazon same one you got :)

[@goodun2974]

Never seen *metal* brushes that small and thin, only nylon or plastic; available cheaply from Harbor Freight (paint-sprayer tip-cleaning brushes). Metal brushes would be great, if they exist; but I use a wound guitar string, .036 to .039, for cleaning the mini 7 and 9 pin sockets.

[@johnfrazzini]

Deoxit crazy! I will just say one thing or one criticism although I have many more: You did absolutely nothing to clean the shunt. You have to open them up since there is no opening where you sprayed your liquid technician/deoxit. Do not do what this guy is doing! You will only create problems and fix noting with deoxit as this guy used it.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Smug much? When you start off sounding like you do, people tune out. I did.

[@Tysman909]

@@retrotechandelectronics ignore him deoxit is totally safe I used it on both my hickok testers never had any issues also used it in shunt control took it apart after cleaning it the control is smooth same with resistance through its whole range

[@tjasont1]

am assuming u found out those sockets are for subminiature tubes

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Yes. Thanks.

[@slet9]

Hi good video you have made.hope you can help me with a questionnaire circuit in a tube tester power plugin. the broken power plug you had. my question is if you measure it with a 200 ohm multimeter? If I put the power button on high then I get a measurement of 5.4 ohm my tube tester is the Lafayette Model TE-50. When I put the power button off, there is 0.00. There might be a short circuit in my Lafayette!? .. What measures your on the plug in that was broken at yours. Kind regards johnny from denmark

[@retrotechandelectronics]

I dont exactly understand what you are asking. Oder auf Deutsche vielleicht?

[@slet9]

@@retrotechandelectronics danke für die antwort. Ich versuche es auf Deutsch oder ich muss ein Video machen. Fragebogen für meine Röhrchen-Tests ist das Lafayette Modell TE-50. Schaltung in einem Röhrenprüfgerät. Ihr Netzstecker hatte schwarzes Band. die ich möchte, dass Sie messen. meine Frage ist, wenn Sie es mit einem 200 Ohm Multimeter messen? wenn ich den Netzschalter auf hoch schalte. ist eine Messung von 5,4 Ohm. schaltet den Netzschalter aus, da ist 0,00. Möglicherweise liegt ein Kurzschluss in meiner Lafayette vor. Was misst man am Netzstecker?

[@retrotechandelectronics]

@@slet9 Also. ich werde Heute Abend eine Prufung auf dem Spule machen.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

@@slet9 Ich habe ihre infos: Ausgeschaltet ----> steht naturlich bei unend.... POT pos. an... Anfang (unlesbar) 163ohm 125v 103ohm 115v 76 ohm 110v 60ohm 105v 42ohm viel gluck mit ihre Reparatur!!

[@slet9]

@@retrotechandelectronics Vielen Dank für Ihre Freundlichkeit und die Zeit, die Sie damit verbringen würden.

[@Tysman909]

Want me to fix that meter in your other tester I can fix it so don't have to tap it.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

huh?

[@Tysman909]

@@retrotechandelectronics your other tester you used to test that 83 tube I can fix the meter in it so you don't have to tap on it everytime you test a tube

[@frankperez7072]

:-)

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Francois?

[@frankperez7072]

Yes, THE Frank. I really enjoy your videos and I learn something from each one. I can not wait for the next one to come out. Keep up the great work!