Johnson Viking II Ham AM CW Tube Transmitter Restoration Repair Checkout K1TLI Creation N6TLU Test

This is a K1TLI Restoration Ham Transmitter. Recently sold. The new owner had some issues with it. Reported no plate current. Decided to send to D-lab for checkout. Upon arrival, the unit did transmit. It appears to have suffered some damage during transit. I repaired those items and retested. Working perfect now. The defects were not related to the restore efforts. Just a gift from shipping. What a beautiful radio. If you plan to get into the vintage Ham radio hobby, do your research, find someone in your area that can mentor you on safe proper operation, study the manual. Then you will enjoy the classic operation of these jewels. K1TLI does magnificent work. He is an artist. Not many left that will take the time to do this detailed work. Check out his website: www.johnsonradioresto.com. Later in this video, I will demonstrate tuning of the Johnson on 11 meter band. This has been requested by several in the past. So here you go guys, I hope that I relayed the info clearly. Enjoy the hobby! I am always happy to see the tube rigs operating and being loved as they should.

[@hayseed5467]

Is it just me, or does Terry's voice make anybody else relax, too? You just know that the boat anchor is going to win in the end. Another great vid.

[@dancraver3815]

I enjoy these old radios being bought back ty

[@jeffmitchell9214]

Terry, you are truly the savior of Johnson Radios. I don't know what people are going to do after you get too old to work. Hopefully by then, you would had a go with most of the survivors. I hope to hear of a statue of you in Waseca Mn.

[@bobrowlette4143]

Very nice, Terry. Thanks for another great video. Not many guys these days can repair a classic amateur radio transmitter like this, but, at the same time, have not only an understanding but a feel for what vintage guitar amps are about. Truly amazing.

[@Greg-et2dp]

Xraytonyb you are good at restoring vintage AM FM stereo receivers and vintage amplifiers my friend

[@durden7]

This is a really good channel.

[@joemcgraw5529]

The knowlege you have Terry is amazing !!! very good info!!!

[@rciancia]

Well done Terry !!

[@hestheMaster]

Popcorn should never be used on heavy equipment as it allows the receiver( here) to move inside the box thus damaging everything including the box! The only thing that saved it was the cabinet being of a strong metal. Tubes should be removed from the sockets and wrapped individually in bubble wrap. Then wrap them together in more bubble wrap and put inside the chassis in an open space. Awesome repair and tune up Terry!.

[@yardleybottles6025]

You are the Guru of boatanchors!

[@d-labelectronics]

Thanks man

[@8xlaxx]

Arguably the BEST video on YT on tune-up procedures for these boat-anchors! Wish someone would send you a Heath DX-100 to work on/repair. Those Johnsons are real lookers...blow the Heathkits away in aesthetics hands down.

[@-Todays-Tom-Sawyer-]

Hi Terry, I wish you had this video about 5 years ago when I was fumbling around trying to learn tune up on my JV 1. Very steep learning curve for a new ham. Great video. Thank you

[@wa4aos]

NEVER NEVER NEVER use shipping peanuts for anything weighing over 30 pounds. The styrofoam peanuts crumble and the newer foam pnuts crush. Either way, this allows the item to move in the box and as soon as the first gorilla at the shipping company drops it a few times, your item WILL get banged up. I restore big receivers like the R390 series and have preached this for over 25 years. Now, when someone doesn't listen and ships a big receiver in a box of pnuts, I'll open it up, retape it and send it back to the client once I have his money for the return shipping. First of all, it takes a long time to clean up the mess and the pieces of foam gets everwhere. In an open receiver like a 390 or A model,. It can gets in the IF/RF cans, all into the gears, under the knobs and makes a HUGE mess. I use to add a couple of hours of labor to clean up the mess and charge extra to get the RIGHT materials to ship it back to the client.. You can go to the big box stores and get an 8 x 4 sheet of solid insulation foam. Score it to the sizes you want and build a 2" minimum wall on all 6 sides. Cover the unit with plastic wrap even the kitchen type; use lots of it to completely cover the unit. Tape the box extremely well, top and bottom and I like to run a few pieces completely the box on all four sides to help firm it up. Oh, don't forget to remove the tubes and ship the seperately or use lots of waded news paper inside but NOT on top of delicate stuff like variable caps. Terry's client was VERY lucky and Terry is far more patient than I do... I have seen way too much really good equipment get destroyed from poor packing.. Sorry for the rant but with just a little effort on your part, yu can be sure your item will be delivered in tact. You can also be sure the shipping goonies don't care about your nice equipment at all.

[@josephgregory5063]

Nice D-Lab keep up the good work.

[@preiter20]

Didn't follow much of the explanation Terry but what a transmitter! A beauty.

[@victormontuori8208]

Happy New Year Terry, watch all your videos, awesome

[@bmh67wa]

That is one beautiful radio.

[@NebukedNezzer]

I have a beautiful viking 1 with factory RFI shielding and matching vfo. there are a couple of important modifications but you have to watch out not to do the wrong mods.

[@tonysigsby870]

What it took to learn this knowledge amazing

[@Greg-et2dp]

Xraytonyb your utube videos are awesome my friend

[@bobblum5973]

Hi, Terry! Nice video, glad the patron saint of repair techs was watching over that Viking during shipment, it could have arrived in itty bitty pieces. Just curious about your unamplified D-104 comment, what is the microphone element in that, ceramic, crystal or what? My main experience back in the "CB '70s" with D-104s was with the amplified ones so I think they were ceramic. I actually saw a few that weren't using the lollipop head, had the pivoting one kind of shaped like a dog's head. I saw way too many people wanting power mics cranked up to 11 (or 12!), had to keep explaining about over modulation and splatter, how a clean clear sound got better results than distortion and muffled audio. Take care, have a good 2021!

[@Kenman540]

Less whine moar wine!!!

[@lucyannrose3620]

50th EF Johnson 250C065-95383 transceiver alot more equipment sell it all

[@timmooney7528]

I'm surprised there haven't been any local wines or wineries mentioned on your site. There are several great wineries in Southwest Michigan, primarily Berrien County, which are awesome due to the geography and local from Lake Michigan. Take a trip down I-94 and see what this area has to offer. Do you prefer wet or dry wines?

[@michaelhager4270]

I reckon you could throw one of those 5R4WGB's at the wall and it would put a hole in the plaster

[@neilsullivan5301]

Terrible packing job. Should've watched your other video on how to pack radios for shipping. Very lucky that nothing broke.

[@Greg-et2dp]

Xraytonyb the owner antique JoHNSoN Viking 2 HAM AM .CW Transmitter my friend

[@minibikemadman]

Chuck is from mansfield,Ma. I contacted and sent ya pics of the ranger 2. I promise I'll ship it better than this lol. De w1cjf

[@d-labelectronics]

Hey man, You might want to resend the e-mail. Yes, ship it over, look forward to Rangers

[@user-mt2qn4yp8w]

Nice video. I have my Dad's Kenwood TS-511S transceiver that needs TLC. I live near Las Vegas NV. I have tried looking for someone to give it a look over and give repairs if needed. I can't find anyone to do that. Do you know anyone out this way? I can't send it out since it also weighs a ton and fear breakage. Thank you.

[@johnbellas490]

Hello Terry!! I was wondering who you are able to buy that big adjustable BIAS resistor from? I know they are super expensive but I have to get a replacement for my Johnson Viking 2 as it is somehow cracked in half, Many thanks ahead of time!! John A Bellas KC2UVN 73's

[@d-labelectronics]

Hi John, I have them in stock, New Ohmites, e-mail me

[@yardleybottles6025]

3 haters got shocked trying to fix their boatanchor and fried their brains.

[@Jah_Rastafari_ORIG]

Modji-tashun...

[@Philip-KA4KOE]

IF B+ around, no alky for you. Beautiful transmitter. I cut my teeth on a Valiant....hateful transmitter....always breaking.

[@Greg-et2dp]

Xraytonyb my hobbies are painting pictures 🖼 and listening to shortwave and ssb iam thinking about getting my Grms license and mybe my ham license some time