DX-60 Vintages

[AC8KU]

I have a couple of DX-60s to "get to" sometime in the future. Meanwhile I'm collecting info on these rigs. One is a DX-60 and one is a DX-60A. I have a manual for the DX-60 but not for the DX-60A. What are the differences (aside from a different meter) between the DX-60, the DX-60A and the DX-60B?
-John

[K9STH]

The DX-60 was manufactured between 1960 and 1964.

The DX-60A was manufactured between 1965 and 1967

The DX-60B was manufactured between 1967 and 1976.

Original prices:

DX-60 = $79.95

DX-60A = $79.95

DX-60B = $124.95

The DX-60 and DX-60A differ primarily in the paint job (DX-60 has a smooth finish and the DX-60A has a wrinkle finish) and most DX-60A have the panel mounted meter instead of the recessed meter of the DX-60. However, a few early DX-60A do have the recessed meter.

Most, but not all, DX-60B have a different location of the crystal sockets and one crystal socket was changed to allow HC-6/U crystals as well as the "standard" FT-243 crystals. Also, there were minor changes in the driver and final "tank" circuits in the DX-60B. The knobs are generally a darker color of green in the DX-60B than the earlier models.

The circuitry in the DX-60 series is much closer to the Heath DX-35 than to the DX-40.

Glen, K9STH

[K7JBQ]

Hmmm.

Then I'm glad I got my order in for the DX-40 in '59. $64.95.

73,
Bill

[K9STH]

One thing that Heath did correctly in the DX-60 series is to put in a power transformer that could do the job. The power transformer in the DX-35 is grossly overloaded and the one in the DX-40 is just overloaded! The number of DX-35 transmitters that still have the original power transformer is relatively small and DX-40 transmitters that still have the original power transformer is growing smaller every day.

My DX-35 is among the few in that it still has the original power transformer. However, the few times that I do put it on the air I definitely baby it and don't even think of running phone!

Glen, K9STH

[W0GSQ]

One thing that Heath did correctly in the DX-60 series is to put in a power transformer that could do the job. The power transformer in the DX-35 is grossly overloaded and the one in the DX-40 is just overloaded! The number of DX-35 transmitters that still have the original power transformer is relatively small and DX-40 transmitters that still have the original power transformer is growing smaller every day.

My DX-35 is among the few in that it still has the original power transformer. However, the few times that I do put it on the air I definitely baby it and don't even think of running phone!

Glen, K9STH

I run a 2E26 instead of a 6146 in mine just for that reason, plenty of output on CW for me.

[K7JBQ]

Yep, I was lucky. Only had to replace my DX-40's transformer once. Sold the rig to a new Novice when I got the HT-37.

73,
Bill

[K5UOS]

I just finished restoring a DX-60B. The original builder did a pretty good job. However, the rig was somewhat neglected and several resistors were considerably changed in value.
I decided to change the filter capacitors and diodes as well as several resistors throughout the rig. I also neutralized the rig.

A few of the resistors were as much as 100% over value. I recently restored two Drake 2B’s and two BC-348Q’s. None of these older rigs had components as far off spec.

I also purchased a HG-10B which was “not working” according to the ad. It actually worked fine. The bezel had come loose causing the pointer to bind and the octal plug was hooked up wrong.
Once the bezel and frame were repaired, the plug wired and the unit calibrated it is a decent, stable VFO.

I tried the DX-60B with a homebrew VFO that did not require using the DX-60B power supply. It was an better CW note with the HB VFO.

I rewired a D-104 mic and the DX-60 appears to be working on AM but I have not had time to check the signal. I have never operated AM so I have some learning to do.

The DX-60B is a pretty hardy rig. The OP should have fun with his two DX-60’s. They are very easy to work on. Properly cared for they will be around 50 years from now.

73, K5UOS

[KM1H]

The circuitry in the DX-60 series is much closer to the Heath DX-35 than to the DX-40.

I noticed that as I have a 60 as well as a 35 with original iron. I do use it on phone only to drive a linear so dont need to run full output plus I use a bucking xfmr to end up with about 112VAC into it.

Carl