I recently bought a Hamaeg 203-7 scope (or as ebay would say, I 'won' it!), and having recently had an unhappy experience with a scope that was damaged in transit and had to be returned for a refund, I bought this one on the basis that I could inspect and collect it from Leeds where the seller lives. When I arrived, he was at work and his wife showed it to me. It had been sold as in good working order, but having no probes, meant that the seller couldn't have adequately tested it, though because it 'lit up' thought that it was 'working'.
I took some probes with me, and all I could get was a single trace which wouldn't move up and down the screen. Neither would that trace display either of the two in-built test square waves or an external signal injector. I reluctantly concluded that it was faulty, and spoke to the seller on the phone. He seemed genuine enought and very apologetic, but no techncally clued up, and said 'I'm sorry I've dragged you over to Leeds on a fools errand I truly believed it was in GWO - please just take it with my compliments'. I didn't feel I could do that, so left a nominal £10, and resolved to myself that if I get it working, I'll send him what I consider a fair amout, depending on what needs to be done to it.
I discovered that the reason only one trace was apparent was that the 'x5 Y mag' button on one traced had been snapped off in the 'on' position. It's basically, a 4mm diam red plastic extension shaft about 3.5" long which operated a switch on the PCB. I removed the damaged shaft and the good one which operates on the other trace to use as a pattern.
I decided that the easiest way to repair it, (short of ordering a new and now doubt costly) shaft from Hameg in Germany), was to make a plastic coupler about 6mm diam, and to cut the damaged shaft to extend it to the desired lengh with that coupler. Even though it can't be seen, I'd find it offensive to the eye if I didn't make the coupler out of red coloured plastic to match. I was sure we had a red plastic coathanger somewhere in the house that might do, an indeed we did, so I hacked a piece out of that! It was actually oval in cross section, so I turned it to 6m diam on my little lathe then drilled each end of the coupler with a 4mm drill in a collet in the tailstock of the lathe, leaving a spacer in the middle of the coupler, so that the finished shaft would be the right length when the two pieces of shaft were inserted into the coupler. The two parts of the shaft were a tight push fit into the coupler, so no glue was needed. Both shafts are now back on the scope and working fine.
Just a little example of how useful a lathe is, and how it soon earns its keep!
I've attached a few pics which show the broken and good shaft, and the befor and after apperance of the x5 mag switch buttons on the front of the scope. (Plenty of coathanger left if I ever need to make another similar item!)
I took some probes with me, and all I could get was a single trace which wouldn't move up and down the screen. Neither would that trace display either of the two in-built test square waves or an external signal injector. I reluctantly concluded that it was faulty, and spoke to the seller on the phone. He seemed genuine enought and very apologetic, but no techncally clued up, and said 'I'm sorry I've dragged you over to Leeds on a fools errand I truly believed it was in GWO - please just take it with my compliments'. I didn't feel I could do that, so left a nominal £10, and resolved to myself that if I get it working, I'll send him what I consider a fair amout, depending on what needs to be done to it.
I discovered that the reason only one trace was apparent was that the 'x5 Y mag' button on one traced had been snapped off in the 'on' position. It's basically, a 4mm diam red plastic extension shaft about 3.5" long which operated a switch on the PCB. I removed the damaged shaft and the good one which operates on the other trace to use as a pattern.
I decided that the easiest way to repair it, (short of ordering a new and now doubt costly) shaft from Hameg in Germany), was to make a plastic coupler about 6mm diam, and to cut the damaged shaft to extend it to the desired lengh with that coupler. Even though it can't be seen, I'd find it offensive to the eye if I didn't make the coupler out of red coloured plastic to match. I was sure we had a red plastic coathanger somewhere in the house that might do, an indeed we did, so I hacked a piece out of that! It was actually oval in cross section, so I turned it to 6m diam on my little lathe then drilled each end of the coupler with a 4mm drill in a collet in the tailstock of the lathe, leaving a spacer in the middle of the coupler, so that the finished shaft would be the right length when the two pieces of shaft were inserted into the coupler. The two parts of the shaft were a tight push fit into the coupler, so no glue was needed. Both shafts are now back on the scope and working fine.
Just a little example of how useful a lathe is, and how it soon earns its keep!
I've attached a few pics which show the broken and good shaft, and the befor and after apperance of the x5 mag switch buttons on the front of the scope. (Plenty of coathanger left if I ever need to make another similar item!)
Regards, David.
BVWS Member.
G-QRP Club Member 1339.
'I'm in my own little world, but I'm happy, and they know me here'
BVWS Member.
G-QRP Club Member 1339.
'I'm in my own little world, but I'm happy, and they know me here'
