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Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site brl-tgr.ARPA
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!brl-tgr!tgr!d3unix!jhs@mitre-bedford.ARPA
From: jhs@mitre-bedford.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.ham-radio
Subject: Re: 930/430 S meter mods & Saving the 2 meter band
Message-ID: <1674@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Mon, 23-Sep-85 17:01:32 EDT
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.1674
Posted: Mon Sep 23 17:01:32 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 25-Sep-85 11:26:26 EDT
Sender: news@brl-tgr.ARPA
Lines: 34

Re: 430 mods -

I have found that room can be found for most any modification if one uses
the following simple procedure:

Obtain from the factory a matching empty housing and blank panel, preferably
painted.  Saw the original unit down the right-hand side with a band saw,
taking care not to saw through too many circuit board foils, switch wafers,
and the like.  Often this can be avoided by bending these critical items out
of the way of the saw track with gas pliers or vise-grips, before commencing
the sawing operation.  Saw down the opposite side of the empty housing, taking
off just the side of the housing if maximum space is desired, or closer to
the center line if a more compact modified unit is required.  Weld the new
empty housing extension onto the original TS-430 housing using Heliarc
equipment for best results.  To avoid warping or damage to sensitive
solid-state components, care should be taken to minimize overall package
temperature rise, and the entire assembly should be cooled quickly by plunging
it into a water bath, preferably salt water, immediately upon completing the
weld.

The weld seam may then be smoothed using a bench grinder for rough areas and
a disk sander for the final finish.  It may be necessary to touch up the
painting if a clean appearance is desired.  If so, paint adhesion will be
improved if an etchant such as MetalPrep (basically phosphoric acid) is
painted onto the bare metal surface and then rinsed off after allowing it
to etch the metal for a few minutes.  Take care not to drip too much of the
acid inside the equipment as it may affect circuit board and connector
reliability.

With these simple procedures, the experimenter can greatly expand the space
available in the 430 and similar transceivers for custom circuit additions.

						73,
						John S., W3IKG