HW-101 Alignment and Neutralization

This 40 min video goes through each step of the alignment and neutralization of the Heathkit HW-101 transceiver. It's designed for non-specialists like me who want to get their rigs running but may not have a degree in electrical engineering. I try to keep it simple and avoid complicated jargon.
I try to stick to the manual as much as possible, but for neutralizing the finals and nulling the carrier I use an RF probe. The manual recommends it, and the service bulletins have an alternate method of final neutralization, which I follow in this video.
Equipment needed: a digital multimeter, an old-school voltmeter, an RF probe and an alignment tool. Optional: freq counter.
I will openly admit that I have trouble following the steps in the manual for aligning the VFO and the calibrator without a frequency counter. If you know how, please share a video so I can learn from you.
Link to the HW-101 manual (searchable): drive.google.c....
(see last page for instructions on neutralizing the finals using an RF probe)

[@W1RMD]

I looks like this is a remake video from yesterday so I'll say again that you've done a great job on this. You have a true knowledge and appreciation of vintage Heathkits. This radio looks like it's traveled through a time machine from the mid 60's! Thanks for sharing and 73's!

[@tennesseered586]

Very instructive, Will. I picked up a well used HW-101 to restore last spring and then another, even better HW-101 fell into my lap. So now I have two! It was the transceiver I dreamed about back in my salad days but I could not afford it; first in money and then in time. Now it's my time to revisit my youthful hobbies and get back on the air. Your HW-101 series have been very helpful. Love the old vacuum tube rigs. They look good, smell good, and they are comprehensible.

[@visitslovenija]

Great video, thanks. It really is time I refurbished my 101 that has been gathering dust now for many years.

[@Nikonman77]

Your the man will, I’m restoring one my self now

[@danielmorgan7702]

Thanks Will for this fine video. It does give me confidence to align my Heathkit HW-101 if/when I need it.

[@jeffwyatt1975]

I'm currently working through the alignment process for the first HW-101 I have restored. I found this video to be extremely helpful and helps to clarifying areas where the manual may introduce some confusion. Thanks for another great video Will!

[@Nikonman77]

FAROUT MAN !!!! Cool Beans. I can’t wait to work on mine…. Thanks will 😅😅😊

[@LonghornGlickstein]

Fantastic video, Will. Thanks so much for putting it together.

[@JJ-el8li]

Excellent video, Will! This will help me align my newly acquired HW-101!

[@JJ-el8li]

It appears that the zero-set knob on my radio isn't working. It is already depressed in and doesn't seem to do anything. Where can I find that assembly in the owner's manual? Thanks

[@N5OLA]

Sounds like the VFO enclosure is set too far back for the button to make pressure against the dial. Try pressing harder. If you can't get it to work, you'll have to open the top cabinet and move the dial assembly manually. To slide the VFO enclosure closer to the front you have to loosen a number of screws, some of which are hard to get to.

[@Travelinmatt1976]

My uncle gave me a HW-101 35 years ago but I never really used it. I sold it for an SB-102 about 12 years ago. I really should get it working

[@mikefinn2101]

This will be a big help to me when I have to rebuild my HW 101 and This is a very great rig to own, one of the best performers even now. Love Heathkit. very kind Will to take the time to show this . Thanks 73s wb7qxu

[@tomcolwell7676]

Excellent video. I'm about to start the restoration of my first radio....the HW-101. It's been in storage for 25 years. I was dreading the alignment, but not anymore! Thanks Will.

[@jimgiordano8218]

This helped me a lot. I have the HW-100 and I dreaded do the alignment after my rebuild of my HP-23 power supply in the next few weeks. Thanks for the video.

[@TheMariepi3]

I imagine American radio amateurs from 50 or 60 years ago with the kit purchased at Heatkit and received in a large cardboard box (when there were no Yaesus or Kenwood, or Icoms, etc., only very expensive Collins and perhaps Drakes) gradually building this sophisticated SSB transmitter transceiver (for that time). ,

[@towerman75]

Very extensive and informative. Enjoyed. Keep up the good work.

[@bennisvcat1340]

Fine video. I restored my HW101 recently recaped and few resistors. I left the vfo alone and did not recap anything there. The tranceiver has worked well. I decided though to remove vfo for inspection. There where some dust there which I removed and cleaned the capacitor and lubricated the gear. Put it back and turned on and scale was little bit off. I aligned the tuning scale with crystal calibration and by trimmin the screws on 3.5 mhz. Things ok there but if change bands to say 14 mhz or 7.0 mhz the zerobeat are little bit of scale - not on the same place on scale. My question is what controls this or what is the best thing to do to be sure that I get zerobeat on same place on scale when changing bands?

[@tompadberg336]

Hi Will. Your HW-101 videos have been tremendously helpful. I still have mine that I built in 1973 when I was in High School. Have you had any stability issues with using the 6146B finals? I have a matched set of JAN 6146Ws that I bought 20 years ago from RF Parts but I have never installed. I would perform the alternative method of neutralizing them as per your video. Thanks, 73.

[@N5OLA]

I have not had stability issues with any types of finals. There's a lot of discussion online about 6146A vs B. In the service bulletins, Heath went back and forth on which to use. I use both.

[@ve2droid698]

Hi Will neutralization doesn't work on my side. I would like to know more information on your DIY RF probe, I made an RF probe and for my part it does not work I have no output reading on my dpox180h scope, need your advice thank you

[@N5OLA]

Mine is based on the Heathkit PK-3 probe. these are designed to be used with old school VTVM's, not digital scopes. If you're using a dpox180h you probably don't need an RF probe. Check the instructions or an online forum on sniffing out RF with it.

[@owencampbell353]

😢 'Promo sm'