MORNING STAR OBSERVATORY
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Hickok 6000A Tube Tester Restoration

The Hickok 6000A is an update of the model 600 and added a removeable tube socket plate or "island" to make it easier to replace worn out sockets. It also tests transistors and it's one of the last models Hickok released.

​A simple Internet search for a Hickok 6000 turns up a lot of good info, especially from the site tubesound.com, so no need for me to repeat the calibration instructions here. The operators manual, calibration instructions, schematic, and tube data are all freely available.

Picture
This tester is missing its top cover, but is otherwise complete. I plan to make a replacement top when time allows.

The front panel is in good condition, although it needs cleaning, and there are no missing parts or knobs.

Picture
A closeup of the meter. The tester can measure mutual conductance (Gm) or provide a quality measurement on the English reading scale. The tester does not have a Gm range selector switch like more expensive Hickoks. The range is selected by setting the Shunt control to predetermined values marked on the dial for the desired range.

Picture
The tube socket island on this tester dispenses with the older large 4-pin through 7-pin sockets to make room for newer bases. This plate has Octal, Loctal, 7-pin minature and 9-pin Noval/10-pin Noval+1 minatures, 9-pin Novar, 12-pin Compactron (Duodecar), and 5 and 7-pin Nuvistor sockets. Plus in the center of the Novar socket is a lamp test socket.

I had a question from a reader about using the tube socket island from the model 6000, which has the older 4, 5, 6 and 7-pin antique tube sockets, on the 6000A. The problem is the 6000 uses an 11-pin socket and plug for the island, and the 6000A uses a 12-pin socket and plug. So they are not interchangeable. I wasn't able to reply to the reader's email, but it was a good question so I put the answer here.

Picture
The underside of the socket island. The island is just sockets, wiring and ferrite beads. It plugs into a 12-pin socket inside the tester.

Picture
The inside is in good shape, just a little surface oxidation on a few metal parts. The dual 150Ω Shunt pots, the 3KΩ Bias pot, and the meter movement all checked OK in preliminary tests.
Picture
This little piece of the history of this tester is glued to the bottom of the case. It's a shipping label returning the tester to Hickok, presumably to be serviced.

Picture
The tester was in pretty good condition overall. Only two electronic components were replaced, plus the power cord and a few screws.

I did spend an hour or two cleaning all the switches, pots and sockets, as well as cleaning and polishing the front panel, knobs, hardware, and the oxidized surfaces. I accidentally found an easy way to clean the metal that had "white rust": Meguiers Cleaner and Wax easily removed the oxidation.

​I also noticed while checking the 10MΩ resistors on the neon shorts lamp assembly, and getting some low readings, that at least some of the exposed leads from the NE-2 lamps were touching the front panel and shorting. I pulled the lamp assembly back and placed a piece of electrical tape on the panel to fix the issue.

Picture
It's all cleaned up, both rectifier tubes tested high and with reasonably good balance, and the big yellow Astron 0.5uF capacitor tested good (it must be a film capacitor). Only the meter's electrolytic capacitor and a 220Ω resistor were replaced.

​Calibration was a breeze. I had to adjust the line setting, but every other calibration was still in spec. I tested a 6L6 and the Gm was very close to the reading on my TV-3.

​I'm surprised a tester I bought online would actually be in this good of an operating condition. Usually there are undisclosed issues with items I find in online auctions.

Picture
The front panel has a scratch in the lower right corner and the anodizing has suffered a bit along the top panel edge, but otherwise it cleaned up well.

All that's left is to make a new top for the case, but it will have to wait on warmer weather so I can get my tools and work areas better organized after our move.

Page created 11/15/2021
Last edited 3/30/2022
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  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
  • Astrophotography
  • The Observatory
    • The New Observatory
    • - About the ExploraDome
    • - About the Lancaster Dome
    • - Building the Lancaster Dome
  • Equipment
    • CCD Cameras >
      • Orion Starshoot Pro
      • QSI 683WS
      • ZWO ASI-178MM
    • Eyepieces
    • Filters
    • Mounts >
      • Orion HDX-110 (EQ-8) >
        • New HDX-110 Setup
        • Orion HDX110 EQ-8
    • Observatory Computers
    • Telescopes >
      • Astro-Tech AT6RC
      • Celestron C-11 XLT
      • Zhumell 152mm Refractor
  • Projects
    • Arduino Focuser
    • C11 XLT Mods
    • Orion SSPRO Camera >
      • Disassembled Views
      • Noise Reduction Mod
      • Temp Controller Mod
    • Ultima 8 Mods
    • Zhumell Refractor Mods
  • Non-Astronomy
    • Amateur Radio >
      • Boat Anchor Radios >
        • BC-348N Receiver
        • Collins 51J4 HF Receiver
        • R-392 HF Receiver
      • DIY >
        • Station Boom Microphone
      • Ameco >
        • Ameco AC-1
        • Ameco OCM
        • Ameco PT-2
        • Ameco R5A
      • Heathkit >
        • Heathkit SB-102 Station
      • Knight-Kit >
        • Knight Kit Span Master II
      • Yaesu FT-817 >
        • Yaesu FT-817ND
        • LDG Z-817 Autotuner
        • Windcamp LiPo Battery
    • Antique Radios >
      • Building A Radio Workbench
      • Radio Dial Neon Clock
      • Radios >
        • 1938 Zenith 6-S-254
        • Echophone EC-1
        • Eltz Radione 2
        • Panasonic RF-5000A
        • Silvertone Model 4465
    • Geiger Counters >
      • AN/PDR-27G Radiac Set
      • Lionel CD V-700 Geiger Counter
      • RCA WF-12A Geiger Counter
    • Test Equipment >
      • DIY Test Equipment >
        • DIY Curve Tracer
        • DIY Signature Tracer
      • Military Test Equipment >
        • BC-221-AF Frequency Meter
        • LM-21 Frequency Meter
        • TS-323/UR Frequency Meter
        • TS-465 C/U Sweep Generator
        • TS-505D/U VTVM
        • TV-3C/U Tube Tester
      • Tube Testers >
        • Alternating Current Sink
        • Drug Store Tester
        • EMC Model 200 Tube Tester
        • Hickok Model 6000A Tube Tester
        • Hickok OZ-1 (550X)
        • Precise Model 111 Tube Tester
        • Precision Model 10-12
        • Supreme Model 385
        • TV-3C/U Tube Tester
      • VTVMs and Multimeters >
        • B&K Model 290 Hi-Low FET Multimeter
        • Hickok 225K VTVM
        • McMurdo Silver VOMAX 900
        • Micronta 22-220 FET Multimeter
        • Simpson 360-2 Digital FET DMM
        • TS-505D/U VTVM
      • Hickok >
        • Hickok 19X RF Generator
        • Hickok 225K VTVM
        • Hickok 288X RF Generator
        • Hickok OZ-1 (550X)
        • Hickok 6000A Tube Tester
      • Simpson >
        • Simpson 360 DMM
        • Simpson 360-2 DMM
        • Simpson 480 Genescope
      • Supreme Instruments >
        • Supreme 385 Automatic
        • Supreme 560 Vedolyzer
        • Supreme 560A Vedolyzer
        • Supreme Model 561 AF/RF Generator
        • Supreme's Model 562 Audolyzer
        • Supreme Model 562 Audolyzer circa 1941
        • Supreme Model 562 Audolyzer circa 1946
        • Supreme Model 563 Audio Generator
        • Supreme Model 576 RF Generator
      • Other Test Equipment >
        • Heathkit IT-28 Capacitor Tester
        • Rider 162 Chanalyst
        • Tektronix 326 O'scope
        • VU-Data Model 941B Oscilloscope
    • ---------------
    • Fossils
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Star Trek >
      • Star Trek Rock Mood Lamp
      • Star Trek Communicator