Restoring a WWII SCR-543 (BC-669) Radio Set with Generator

All about restoring a BC-669-D from World War II. Part of the SCR-543-D radio set, the receiver/transmitter, power supply and 110 volt generator are explained and fully restored to operating condition. A medium power, medium distance AM/CW radio set that was designed for field use-- or in small trucks. Many found their way into amateur radio use after the war.
I cover many of my cosmetic restoration techniques as well as woodworking to build reproduction chests.
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Here is the link to the "American Detent" described in the video:
www.hubbell.com/hubbellcanada...

[@WaynesGarageTexas]

Very cool to see it operating from the motorized generator! Glad that I could help out with the engine!

[@thomthumbe]

Very nice! I worked for the GOVT as a tactical mil radio engineer. My father was in WWII and I was always fascinated with his recollections about how they did radio back then. I honestly love videos/info like your channel! Many thanks!

[@Radiotexas]

Thanks! Always glad to hear about WWII vets!

[@Preso58]

Very cool restoration Jay. I love the wrinkle finish on the sheet metal work. The nameplates came out great as well.

[@Radiotexas]

Thanks mate! You came up with the name plate idea!

[@joetrentmann--N0JVW--4REF1]

Excellent documentary and fantastic restoration. Thanks for sharing! TNX & 73

[@Radiotexas]

Thank you. Appreciate your comment.

[@retro440]

Great vid!!!!!

[@KD6TKX1]

Very well done! Would be fun to attempt a 669 to 669 contact some time.

[@Radiotexas]

I really appreciated your help pal! If conditions every improve we'll give it a shot! Long haul from Texas to CA!

[@W4AX]

Jay, thank you for another fantastic video! I enjoyed seeing and hearing your progress on a daily basis and this video really brings it together, Another masterpiece!

[@Radiotexas]

Thanks pal!

[@alicemoon9008]

#1

[@mariomorozinbajcic3408]

Muy bien !!!!!!! CE2RKL

[@Radiotexas]

Gracias!!

[@wklinger79]

This is a tremendous video Jay. Are you having difficulty finding the 6cl6 tubes? I took a look at eBay and I found a fair number of them.....

[@brianbranson2306]

still not sure what these were used for, catalogue says coast artillery, and AAA units, and was sposed to communicate with the SCR-593 warning set. but havent seen a TO&E, with those.

[@AndrewMurphy8383]

I have the tool box that go with gen

[@chrisjarvis4449]

real boat anchor radioman have cherry pickers to do the heavy lifting

[@davidstinson7269]

How did he un-seize the 108 engine??

[@Radiotexas]

Ol Wayne is a gearhead and a professional broadcast engineer. We both grew up in the Texas Panhandle. Remember.. the top of the cylinder had an inch of free space and soaked in PB Blaster for a month! But, it was still tighter than ol Cooter Brown! The generator rotor was stuck on the shaft as well. Wayne simply took a steel rod and started tapping the rotor from the flywheel end... the shaft turned out to be hollow (which I did not realize). The tapping just loosened the corroded piston rings enough to free the piston and the rotor just eased itself off the shaft. Like I said, "find a friend who is smarter than you are!" Thanks for your comments Dave. 73

[@Radiotexas]

Hold on! I goofed! The shaft is NOT hollow! The rotor shaft is, of course, hollow! Wayne put a rod on the ROTOR end and tapped it out.. As the engine was not mounted in place, it was free to move from the kinetic force that loosened the rotor and the crankshaft moved enough to dislodge the rotor and knocked enough crud off the shot rings to free the piston. Should have thunk about it before my previous reply!!

[@WaynesGarageTexas]

All of what Jay said above, and we used a short (prolly 6" long) piece of 2x2 applied to the piston top with some light tapping with a hammer. That started the piston moving downward. Then grabbed flywheel/cooling fan and started rocking it back and forth. A couple minutes of that and the piston was freely (ish) moving up and down.