Hi All,
I got an old Tek Type 502 Dual-Beam Oscilloscope for $65; or about $1 per year! I was excited until I got it home and took a look inside. It was very dirty; cobwebs and caked on dust all over. Most likely it has been sitting in storage for decades and everyone has long forgotten about it. Luckily, the weather in San Francisco bay area is pretty easy on equipment.
http://w140.com/tekwiki/wiki/502I am new at electronics and I am worried that I am in over my head! Before I invest a lot of time and effort to restore this, any advise on how to quickly assess if the machine is worth repairing?
For example, how do I determine if the CRT is still working? I'd imagine if the CRT is toasted, I should toss in the towel. Note, given the machine's current condition (for example, there is a bunch of paper caps that needed replacing), I don't want to power up the whole shebang. Also I don't want to recap until I know the CRT isn't dead.
Given how large this machine is and how dirty it is, I am also considering hosing the machine down and wash it with soap water. I'll then let it air dry for 2 weeks. Is that safe? What components are susceptible to water damage? I can deal with oxidation from water with some contact cleaner. However, I am not sure if there are other concerns.
Any other parts in these old scopes that are hard to repair? Your advise is much appreciated.
I've clean up the machine a bit with a vacuum cleaner and toothbrush. That did wonders and I now feel a bit better about the machine's condition. I've attached some pics. At least from these photos, I think I have a shoot.