[glyphmon]

MrFixr55,

Thanks for the tips.  I did manage to adjust the centering with the rear set screw and this cleared up the sound across the band marvelously.  But then it was back to being so stiff that the fine tuning knob on the vernier was just slipping like before.  So today the dial came apart again to be able to squirt a little bit more lithium grease in the front bearing area, and then did the same by the set screw at the back.  Got it back to a place where it could turn with ease and have the rotor blades centered nicely.

In the process, I damaged the shortwave band lamp.  So looks like I'll need to pick up a #46 bulb.

I'm sure it goes without saying that adjusting the axial centering of the rotor did a number on the alignment and it's only receiving the local AM station at a very low level.  I have a (hopefully) working tube tester on the way, so I'm going to try testing the remaining tubes (just to be have tested them all), calibrate the signal generator, and only then run one more alignment and this should mark the end of the electronic tweaking of this particular chassis.

In a more general vein, I did want to get people's opinion on the possible interference from a nearby transmission line.  My house is along a small, regional transmission line running at 43.5 kV.  Where I am at inside with the radio(s) is probably 70 feet from the lines at a right angle.  What sort of impact would one expect to be experienced from a line at this level, at this proximity?

I'm going to try to put in a dedicated grounding rod and wire for the radio(s) within the next couple weeks, as well as to string the long wire antenna I've got balled up right now along the outside of the building