Grant XL peak and tune ?

[RBR762]

Here goes,
some of you are not gonna like this but, after reading endless opinions on how to tune a Grant XL properly I decided to do the following to my New in the box
Grant XL.
For am modulation I removed r131- I have faith in my 30 plus years as a operator and I believe I can adjust my 575-m6 properly without over modulating and
splattering over on other channels.
I turned vr10 up all the way and still only got a 3 1/2 watt dead key-so I tweaked l38 a little and was able to obtain just barely a 4 watt DK , which is what I was aiming for-still it is strange that the dead key could only go that high.I retuned l45-l48 and did not notice any difference. Now on AM the radio keys 4 and swing to 15 when modulating.
For SSB all I did was turn up vr11 for max wattage and all I could get it to do was 12 watts PEP, and that was with the variable turned a little over half way, turning it any more made no difference in output. No SSB limiters were removed.
This is the first SSB radio that I did not remove the SSB limiter. My test set up is a Antron 99 with a 1.2 match and using a pdc600p meter, I did put my bird43 in place of the pdc to verify and with the bird43 with pep kit installed it actually showed a hair more PEP on SSB.
I am happy with AM modulation as well as output and have gotten great on air reports, and also have gotten great on air reports on SSB as well.
My question is about the SSB output-is this normal at only 12 watts, it was only 6 before the tune but seems like it should be more than or at least equal to my AM output.
All comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Robert

[drdx]

Those outputs seem awfully low based on having those years ago. It is almost as if your after tune numbers are what a stock one should do. I'm assuming your supply was adequate and all but wonder if the final could be weak. You mentioned new in the box. Is this an old stock radio or one you have had a long time? Those were great radios with great receive.

-drdx

[RBR762]

Thanks for the reply drdx- I think the AM tune is about average at 15 watts PEP, I have seen 17-18 before but I am satisfied with the 15. The SSB on the other hand is low and should be at least equal to the AM output if not a bit more. I did check the driver/final bias and had a hard time keeping them set because of the plastic cap variables, I read a post on here some time ago that the CBDoctor suggest that they be changed to the all metal ones-I think I will do that next along with maybe new e-caps.
Apreciate any and all suggestions.
Robert

-- Saturday, 07 February 2015, 19:52 PM --

took this long to get a recap kit- the first seller sent me the wrong kit and refused to take it back or send me the right one (filed a claim and WON).
So I ordered a kit from a vendor in Canada for a 2000 gtl and will make it work. I might start replacing some maybe this weekend and see how it goes.
I emailed the Cobra2000gtl GURU on this forum thru his website to see if he was willing to take a look at it and got no reply. Guess he is busy!
I noticed that I did not mention that this is a export model from Australia and I purchased it years ago. It came in the box and looked as though it had never been hooked up, it even had the plastic still on that beautiful all black face and knobs. I just decided that what the hell and take it out of the box and use it, I have found out that cb's are not like guns, you cannot put them away for years and then pull them out and expect them to work perfectly.
Robert

-- Friday, 03 April 2015, 22:35 PM --

Finally got around to replacing all the caps and after a retune I got the following results.
DK will go up to 4 1/2 now and swings up to 18 on AM. SSB came up to 14 PEP.
Still low output on SSB- gonna start replacing the ALC driver transistors next in hopes that one is maybe weak.
Any suggestions are welcomed.

-- Friday, 03 April 2015, 22:37 PM --

Finally got around to replacing all the caps and after a retune I got the following results.
DK will go up to 4 1/2 now and swings up to 18 on AM. SSB came up to 14 PEP.
Still low output on SSB- gonna start replacing the ALC driver transistors next in hopes that one is maybe weak.
Any suggestions are welcomed.

-- Sunday, 05 April 2015, 6:10 AM --

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-- Sunday, 12 April 2015, 7:38 AM --

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