[glyphmon]

Wanted to start on the alignment today, but now waiting on a couple of alligator clip leads for my multimeter (previously had just the stabby kinds) because I'll be darned if it isn't tight getting in to the plate and cathode pins on the 6F6G output tube in this chassis by itself, let alone while also trying to make the connection to the 6A8G from the signal generator.

While waiting, here are a couple questions that are keeping me on my toes.  This radio seems a bit finicky in that, there are times that with the volume turned all the way down there can be some random static/noise come through.  Not constant, and it varies all by itself sitting there, so logically, I would think there's something not 100% between the output and and the field coil.  Where would you start chasing this noise down?  I can't say for certain, but it seems to happen most frequently after making an end-to-end pass with the dial, though if it's in the audio output circuits with volume turned down, not sure why this would matter unless it's simply a time-in-operation/heat correlation.

The other thing that is problematic (and has been since before I started poking around so at least I know it's not my fault) is that at the lower end of the AM band it gets really noisy while adjusting the dial.  This at least IS adjustable with the volume but it tends to try to blow my eardrums out if I forget to turn the volume WAY down.  I see there are a few rotor blades (fins?) that look like they've abraded against the adjacent stator ones over time and they did get pretty close.  I've tried to straighten that a little and it did improve the noise, I believe, so I suspect there's something still awry here.  I don't have one of those ultrasonic baths and at this point in the game I'm not taking this thing back out to give it a bath even if I had one, but are there techniques you would suggest to dislodge any industrial-strength dust that is probably lurking inside this condenser, not to mention elsewhere?  Canned compressed air doesn't seem to be cutting it.  I don't SEE any other points where it looks like pieces that shouldn't be touching are.

And yes, the dim bulb has been removed - radio straight into Isotap.

Best wishes,
Roy