Uploaded March 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The SA2060A Heathkit antenna tuner restoration Project is now
completed and after using it several times a couple of small issues showed up which appeared to me to be worthy of mention .
First the coax connectors on the rear are the type fastened by a single large nut this is ok but the nut takes up a few threads on the coax connector and reduces the length enough so some PL-259
connectors can not be screwed on far enough to properly grip
the shell of the PL259 type connector leaving a loose ground connection . Amphenol connectors fit fine BUT some others
do not so when you connect your coax make sure the shell of the PL259 connector is holding the inner part on the coax securely
wiggle the cable and the back part of the connector to check this .
I am making some very short 6 inch coax RG-8 jumpers with a coax barrel on them so I can use my existing coax feedline from the antenna which does not work properly as previously described .
The second issue was the rotary inductor KNOB I have a MFJ .
antenna tuner which I like and it has a spinner knob on the roller inductor this works very well when moving from band to band the Heathkit SA2060 however does not have a spinner knob I tried using a knob from a SB-104 which has the little finger hole in it and found that did not work because the large rotary inductor took so much torque to turn the knob . To go from one band to another you must turn that knob hundreds of times ! So I made a DIY spinner knob from 1/8 th inch thick lexan polycarbonate and a surplus bakelite switch knob with a flat top found in the junk box this is solid bakelite and you can drill and tap it no problem adding a longer "arm" to this homemade spinner knob makes adjusting the roller inductor easy eliminated all that annoying knob
cranking and works really well any big knob with a flat surface and enough thickness will probably work . I used a #36 drill drilling the holes all the way through the knob and tapped them for 1/2 inch 6/32 SS screws this knob here is solid bakelite and threaded fine . The lexan arm was match drilled with the knob... The spinner "grip"part on the end is just a 3/4 inch long steel bushing fastened with another 6/32 screw with washers and lock washers and two nuts adjusted to turn easilyThis really works great Note the bushing I used was threaded for 8/32 screws I drilled it out with a slightly larger drill to get a smooth bore If you have a bushing with a smooth bore this would not need to be drilled out .. The original knob I put in a small zip lock bag and fastened it to the balanced feedline wing nut on the back with a piece of wire so I don't lose it. The lexan or polycarbonate sheet was obtained at a sign making shop since such a small piece of 1/8th inch stock is needed they probably would sell it to you very cheap or even give you a smallpiece if they have any scrap laying around this comes in colors too so you could make a spinner knob arm many different colors . 73 everyone Bob N8RS
The SA2060A Heathkit antenna tuner restoration Project is now
completed and after using it several times a couple of small issues showed up which appeared to me to be worthy of mention .
First the coax connectors on the rear are the type fastened by a single large nut this is ok but the nut takes up a few threads on the coax connector and reduces the length enough so some PL-259
connectors can not be screwed on far enough to properly grip
the shell of the PL259 type connector leaving a loose ground connection . Amphenol connectors fit fine BUT some others
do not so when you connect your coax make sure the shell of the PL259 connector is holding the inner part on the coax securely
wiggle the cable and the back part of the connector to check this .
I am making some very short 6 inch coax RG-8 jumpers with a coax barrel on them so I can use my existing coax feedline from the antenna which does not work properly as previously described .
The second issue was the rotary inductor KNOB I have a MFJ .
antenna tuner which I like and it has a spinner knob on the roller inductor this works very well when moving from band to band the Heathkit SA2060 however does not have a spinner knob I tried using a knob from a SB-104 which has the little finger hole in it and found that did not work because the large rotary inductor took so much torque to turn the knob . To go from one band to another you must turn that knob hundreds of times ! So I made a DIY spinner knob from 1/8 th inch thick lexan polycarbonate and a surplus bakelite switch knob with a flat top found in the junk box this is solid bakelite and you can drill and tap it no problem adding a longer "arm" to this homemade spinner knob makes adjusting the roller inductor easy eliminated all that annoying knob
cranking and works really well any big knob with a flat surface and enough thickness will probably work . I used a #36 drill drilling the holes all the way through the knob and tapped them for 1/2 inch 6/32 SS screws this knob here is solid bakelite and threaded fine . The lexan arm was match drilled with the knob... The spinner "grip"part on the end is just a 3/4 inch long steel bushing fastened with another 6/32 screw with washers and lock washers and two nuts adjusted to turn easilyThis really works great Note the bushing I used was threaded for 8/32 screws I drilled it out with a slightly larger drill to get a smooth bore If you have a bushing with a smooth bore this would not need to be drilled out .. The original knob I put in a small zip lock bag and fastened it to the balanced feedline wing nut on the back with a piece of wire so I don't lose it. The lexan or polycarbonate sheet was obtained at a sign making shop since such a small piece of 1/8th inch stock is needed they probably would sell it to you very cheap or even give you a smallpiece if they have any scrap laying around this comes in colors too so you could make a spinner knob arm many different colors . 73 everyone Bob N8RS
