Vintage SSB Drake TR-3 Refurb Part 1

The Drake TR-3 Transceiver was a modern single conversion SSB/CW/AM radio introduced in 1963. Let's go through a typical unit showing years of blemishes from ham use, storage and trips around the hamfest flea market scene. Can it be saved?

[@greggaieck4808]

Mikrowave 1 your vintage ssb drke tr3 is cool my hobbys are painting pictures and lisining to shortwave and ssb iam thinking about getting my ham license

[@MIKROWAVE1]

One of my subscribers paints pictures - of radios!

[@johnshellythomas7695]

Man!, I remember those beautiful Drake radios ... I salivated over them as a novice back in the mid-60's. :) 73 de AE3M

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Compact and great performance.

[@brianbloom1799]

Why would anyone complain, About Bettering The Set, I thought it was a Great Upgrade.

[@BruceNitroxpro]

Dumb move to check the leakage of caps like that. REALLY. For someone so fussy to be taken down by a simple failure to recap. Do what you said you were GOING to do. de KQ2E

[@СтаМилАлас]

E sada sam prvi video vas dok je bila promocija ovoga.cestitam 73 milan

[@angelinsurancesc]

Hi Great Video Just ordered a DRAKE TR-3 HF Base Transceiver from MTC and wanted to know if you do repairs or aligments if needed. Just getting into Tube Type Trans...AC4KW thanks for the videos

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Hopefully it came with a power supply and cables. Should be a lot of fun cleaning up that radio.

[@berndb.5097]

Unfortunately, here in Germany it is difficult to get such beautiful American antiques :-( Once you've found something, a lot of money is asked for it. Meanwhile, I'll watch your videos and wait for a good opportunity ;-) 73´s

[@greggaieck4808]

Mikrowave 1 I have 4 shortwave receivers

[@MIKROWAVE1]

You need an antenna splitter! No actually you need more radios.

[@docfoot316]

Very nice radio,great job you are doing ,looking forward to pt2

[@arildoaparecidocosta5729]

Olá Brasil top demais parabéns guerreiros bazuka Foz do Iguaçu pr Brasil

[@luckyfreeman5079]

Cant find wu2d found a doctor at hospital in Manchester Nh but no phone any more . Looking to speak with Michael Murphey

[@MIKROWAVE1]

I know that doctor and have used him on and off.

[@seanlynch1841]

Hello, long time follower of your channel. I have a Drake R4-C with all the Sherwood mods. It’s my go-to reviver which I use daily with my T-4XC. The receiver is in need of some servicing. Do you offer any refurb services? Thanks!

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Thanks for watching Sean. Nope, I would be overwhelmed and I do not have the finesse to not cut corners. There are real techs out there that do it right!

[@seanlynch1841]

@@MIKROWAVE1 understood OM, thanks for getting back to me.

[@alanbrown4766]

Good to work you the other day on this rig. 73, Al W1VTP

[@johnwest7993]

I did a refub of a TR-3 one time. I too spent a few days at it. It's too nice a rig to get sloppy with. It's a labor of love. The one I worked on only had a couple of spots of corrosion on the plating. Other than that it looked like the chassis was pure copper. I think a drop of sweat had fallen through the lid at one time.

[@MIKROWAVE1]

That radio was quite an adventure to bring back. Perfection is elusive.

[@maxedoutmegablith6473]

Hi, I just recently got a TR-4 and really enjoy it. My question is how to Cure the IP meter from Bounce? Right now the meter bounces so much I can't and I doubt anyone could tune the rig safely. The rig has several issues like the power supply I just finished rebuilding and I need to get some resistors replaced under the PA on the underside I think 15ohm. Another question is a good replacement for the RX TX fuse located under the PA cage near the SO-239 antenna port? I know you get tons of questions so if you happen to see this I would appreciate any advice you might have.

[@MIKROWAVE1]

The meters are not high quality damped types. Most overshoot, and the only true solution that I have heard of, is to replace them with different 5 mA FS units and make your own dial paper. Not impossible- but not necessarily cheap or fun.

[@maxedoutmegablith6473]

@@MIKROWAVE1 Hi Mike, thank you for the reply. What you suggested maybe over my ability. An old friend who owned one of these old Drakes came over tuned the rig up in about a minute and had it talking. He said he had lived with the bounce for years and just basically tuned for Max Output using the meter on the tuner. He said you could see the dips and peaks when tuning on that meter as easy as the internal. I don't have a clue! Ok so I have read I can USE a #47 bulb and make the RX TX fuse out of that if I am careful. The resistance is supposedly the same as the original #12 fuse that is no longer made. Also read that the number #12 was a horrible designed fuse in the radio because by the time it blew the rig would be ruined anyway. SO not sure on using the #47 to replace it. We did use a #47 to get the receiver working and for him to tune up to see if she would transmit. I have to say I have fallen in love with this old radio Drake TR-4 the original without the NB or lettering for it. I have the Drake 2b I recently got also because of something I regretted. Back in the early 90's my kids were small and I had a Drake 2b picked up at a Ham Fest for $23 bucks every dollar I had left anyway back then and I recall what a wonderful time they had listening to Santa Claus traveling the world on 40 meters and when he got close to our area talk about two little boys running to bed. Some hams up your way best I recall gave those kids a wonderful Christmas in so many ways. I sold that thing about a year later and had regretted it for years. Wish I had that one back! Both the boys are grown now and they both remember that Christmas.

[@michaelellard4664]

What a beautiful restoration.

[@luckyfreeman5079]

Labor day 2023

[@MrBonez208]

I have one I restored and in great shape. And would like to talk and share video sometime!

[@MrBonez208]

Also have the rv-3 supply second vfo too

[@Kmarty2000]

Will this equipment work in my TR3B anti-gravitic bomber? It uses 6L6 w 12ax7 pre-amp...

[@PapasDino]

Nice work Mike. I have some of the correct dial blue filter material on hand; if you'd like a piece send me a note at my ARRL address. 73 - Dino KLØS

[@MD0MDI]

Shame we can’t get electric radio in th uk

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Yes that is a tough one. But you can sometimes find issues and sets for sale second hand, like other magazines.

[@fredcresce3800]

Hello WU2D...I AM Fred KC4MOP....subscribed to your channel and enjoying the refurb vids. Because of YOU and the informative review of 1960's transceivers, I bought into a nicely priced National NCX-5, on eBay, of all places. I'm gonna clean her up and make it sparkle and restore it to operate at my station. I'll email through QRZd

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Wooooo!

[@KB4QAA]

I remember going into Consolidated Radio in Kansas City in the late 70's as a Novice. They had one whole wall of mostly used Drake radios. Obviously they liked Drakes!

[@MIKROWAVE1]

Many of the great shops are gone now. Here in NH, the big one was Evans Radio in Concord.

[@garypoland5288]

Biggest problem with the TR-3's are the crystals in the " soup can " filter drifting off frequency. That fact alone has rendered many TR-3's unrepairable. TR-4's suffered failure of side band filters as well, usually the filter used for 80 meter LSB, USB on 20 meters. The only tube testers I have found useful for checking 12/6JB6's are ones that check mutual conductance.

[@ozloon2000]

12jb6 use 6jb6 and a diode to give half wave 6v i did it i could not get 12jb6 tubes

[@TheGmr140]

no thanks i'll take the modern DSP stuff. and i like having a huge waterfall display on my TV, so i can see where the signals are. it's so much faster than changing a dial hoping i hear something. lol

[@maxedoutmegablith6473]

I have old gear and newer gear. Have the DSP and all the bells even the waterfalls. That said, I understand where you are coming from but nothing can or ever compare to a classic Old Tube Radio for just fun. You're right they're not for everyone. Both have their places both the new and old. We can learn from both. Have a Blessed day! Remember Learning is a Glowing experience!

[@johntiggleman4686]

But not much of a challenge. I have zero digital stuff and unless my tube transceiver is kaput, I will stay with tubes. But matters not what others do, as long as they enjoy it.

[@crosleyfiver8686]

Been waiting a long time for a vid like this!!

[@boxingday11]

Thank you very much.

[@AliReza-zx8km]

Nice

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

What about modifying the unit to use TELEFUNKEN Space Charge vacuum tubes so it can operate on 24V and maybe you could go Solid State with 100W Power FETs in the final stage.