Possible AMERITRON AL-1200 Parting out... Questions?

[W2GE]

TIA for any advise.

  Unfortunately FedEx damaged my (once) perfectly working full-output AL-1200 in shipping, the chassis was bent at the transformer area.... (Hindsight is 20-20, I know.. I wish I pulled the xfmr)  [The tube was wrapped and sent separately and I expect it to be fine.]

  I guess my question is... Is there a market for individual parts out of the amp?  Does anyone know what a pull 3cx1200A7 is worth and  the Peter Dahl transformer?  This was a relatively low hour amp that was used for DXing only that I sold on eBay that has unfortunately turned into a semi-nightmare for me...  I'm dealing with trying to get settlement from FedEx... but not holding my breath. At the present time FedEx is returning the amp to me, but luckily they do note in their tracking info that "the package was damaged in shipping, returning to sender"

73's de W2GE  Phil Levin

(If this is in the wrong forum, admin, please move for me... TU!)

[KA5N]

Were it me, I would look for an  AL-1200 with a bad transformer.  Since you still have a good
transformer and tube, you have the majority of the worth of the amp.   
If you sell for parts you can't get the cost back on anything. 
This incident shows the wisdom of a local sale on amps versus shipping.

Allen

[W9KDX]

It might be worth looking into getting replacement parts from MFJ.  This is one of the things they are good at.

[N6AJR]

I just sold one yesterday, and there is a market for them.  I would list it here and on other  ham sights as non working due to damage to the case and eother sell it whole or part it out by boards.   go to ameritron and see what a new tube is selling for and ask for say half  for a known good used tube.  you can probably pull something near a thousand bucks for parts. good luck, that is a popular amp, used in quite a few dx stations.

[W1QJ]

That amp weighs 77 pounds with the transformer in it.  Subtract 3 pounds for the tube and you shipped a 74 pound item that most people could hardly lift especially in a clumsy box.  4 nuts remove the transformer and it's out.  That is why they make it so easy to remove.  You would need about 4 to 6 inches of hard foam isulation around 2 double boxed boxes to ship it without being destroyed.  Anything less than that and a simple slip from waist high and its all bent up.  The tube if it is full power output could easily bring $450 to 500 dollars.  The transformer could bring $250.00.  That is the bulk, then you have meters, PS board and the entire tank circuit if removed as a complete unit.  Blower, knobs front panel and so on. 

[W2GE]

Originally the amp was sent to me in the original Ameritron Box with the transformer installed....(TUBE SEPARATE)  that is partly the reason I wasn't so hesitant to send it out that way...  but, in hindsight!!!(_*)&^*&#$%&^*(%)^

Re: replacement parts..  I believe it would need a new chassis and then, everything moved over;  Assuming all else is okay... (I'm interested to see if after removing the transformer if I can kinda coax it back into shape?  Tube price is now close to $1400...

 I'll post close-up pics when I get the amp back. See what you guys think.

TU!  73's W2GE

P.S.  I tried local sale... NADA.

[KE3WD]

It might be worth looking into getting replacement parts from MFJ.  This is one of the things they are good at.

This would be my firast line of investigation also.  Put the thing on the bench and go through the Triage, list the parts that will have to be replaced and then see if Ameritron can supply said parts and what it would cost. 


73

[K2DC]

An installed tube and transformer is not the normal shipping configuration for an AL-1200. The one I bought new many years ago came with the transformer and tube each is separate boxes.

73,

Don, K2DC

[N4ATS]

I would be happy to rebuild it for you , I have rebuilt several packed wrong and damaged amplifiers. My neighbor has a machine shop and repairs frames for me. A few bucks and some cosmetics parts , you can most likely save it unless it was dropped 40 feet or smashed beyond recognition..

[W2GE]

An installed tube and transformer is not the normal shipping configuration for an AL-1200. The one I bought new many years ago came with the transformer and tube each is separate boxes.

73,

Don, K2DC

Don, Tube was sent separate, but the transformer/amp was shipped together... it was bought from an SK estate and they sent it that way... (In the year 2000 or so)  Sorry for the misunderstanding.  Amp was built in 1998.

N4ATS, will PM you. I may consider your offer..  TU!.  Amp is supposed to be returned by FedEx tomorrow. 73

[N4ATS]

"N4ATS, will PM you. I may consider your offer..  TU!."

Use my email  "  grassa@earthlink.net "  or 407-873-3070

Cheers

www.N4ATS.com  

[W2GE]

Bill, et. al, TU for your help...

 FedEx is going to make me whole but unfortunately has taken the amp and tube as "salvage".  I decided due to the possible amount of time to get it fixed, uncertainty of the cost to repair,  continued possible shipping issues (and COST!) and then to try to re-sell it (the uncertainty) that I accepted their offer.

 The "sad" thing is that this once perfectly operating amp is now probably going to sit in a warehouse and/or end up 'who knows where?'  (I don't know what FedEx does with salvage merchandise (I kinda researched this a bit, possibly an auction house in Utah).. but if you do... be on the lookout for a known good 3cx1200a7 and an AL-1200 with a bent frame!

73 de W2GE

Phil

[KA5N]

Here's a great idea for getting rid of something you can't sell.  Just pack it poorly and ship it
around until some shipper smashes it and then collect the settlement from the shipper.

A sad end to a nice amp.

Allen

[K1ZJH]

FedEx will sell the "salvage."  Why not ask them what they want for the old amp?
It isn't worth a thing to them sitting in a warehouse....

Pete

[NN4X]

A bit of searching turns up that this place might handle FedEx?  http://bukoos.com/index.html