Thank you VR2AX for your input...What you say about the amp possibly being more efficient on 40 might be true, but this seems to extreme for that to be an explanation of needing max C with the load control on 80.  As for the tubes, I even switched the tubes with another set I had, and the results we're identical.  Something here is eluding me, and I can't seem to put my finger on it.

Well I thank all of you for your suggestions, but the problem persists...Steve of course you we're right and the 500 uuf cap is in the load circuit, but I have changed that and tried two other caps, and nothing changes.  I have even tried soldering in the 500uuf cap direct bypassing the switch, but nothing changes, still have to use max C on 80 to achieve anything near 400W, where on 40 I can get in excess of 500W, without needing max C.  Once again its only on 80 meters...More suggestions appreciated....I hate to put the amp back in the cabinet, until I can get to the bottom of this..
                          THANKS TO ALL

STEVE..THANKS FOR THE QUICK REPLY...ALTHOUGH I MENTIONED THE CAPS THAT YOU REFER TO AS THE "LOADING PADDER" CAPS, THEY APPEAR TO BE MORE PADDERS FOR THE TUNING CAP, AND NOT THE LOADING CAP..100 & 500 uuf RESPECTIVILY...I DID MEASURE THE CAPACITANCE OF BOTH OF THOSE AND THEY WE'RE FINE...ACTUALLY I REPLACED THEM ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO IN THIS ONGOING BATTLE TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM...REPLACED THEM WITH HEFTIER 5KW UNITS...BOB

I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT I SHOULD GET THE HIGHEST OUTPUT FROM THE SB-200 ON THE 80 METER BAND, AND THE OUTPUT SHOULD DECREASE AS I GO HIGHER UP...ON MY WATERS LOAD/WATTMETER I GET 400 OUT ON 80..500 ON 40, AND THEN IT GRADUALLY DECREASES AS I GO HIGHER UP...BUT ON 80 IT APPEARS THAT THE LOAD CONTROL IS FULLY COUNTER CLOCKWISE TO GET THE HIGHEST OUTPUT, AND IT APPEARS THAT IT WANTS MORE C TO GET ANY MORE POWER OUT ON 80..I CHECKED THE CAPS THAT ARE SWITCHED IN ON 80, AND ALL SEEMS WELL...THE TUNED INPUT ON 80 WITH A SWR BRIDGE BETWEEN THE EXCITER AND AMP, SHOWS LOW SWR, BUT I GET VERY LITTLE CHANGE USING THE 80 METER TUNED INPUT COIL..AND YES I CHECKED THE 470 MICA ON THE 80 METER TUNED INPUT COIL..WHY ON 80 (AND TO A SMALLER EXTENT ON 40) DO I REQUIRE MAX C ON THE LOAD CONTROL TO GET MAX OUTPUT...

WELL TIMONIUM IS STILL GOING ON AS I WRITE THIS...I WAS THERE ON SATURDAY THE 28th, BUT COULD NOT STAY UNTIL SUNDAY...YES IT RAINED, BUT NEVER THE LESS THE FLEA MARKET WAS VERY BUSY..I MUST ADMIT I HAVE FORGOTTEN THE CALLSIGN OF THE GENTLEMEN WHO I CONTACTED PRIOR TO THE FLEA MARKET IN REFERENCE TO MY ADVANCED TICKET, BUT MY THANKS TO HIM AND ALL THE FELLOWS WHO PUT ON THIS SPLENDID HAMFEST...ITS A CASUAL FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE, WITH LOTS OF SPACE, DECENT FOOD, AND GOOD BATHROOMS..WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR. THANK YOU FOR A GREAT DAY...BOB/K2LGO

I'd be worried that using an antenna like that indoors even with moderate power would exceed the safe RF radiation limits for a person so close...Any opinions...

I am trying to use the YSK-900 separation kit, with my FT-900, but the small metric screws that hold the cable contact assemblies to the radio, and the front panel are missing...I have tried every source I could think of including YAESU, but no luck...Plus the fact I just don't know the size of those screws, so its hard to find them online...I tried taking the assembly to Home Depot and their Metric screw drawers, but no luck...much to small..Any suggestion??? 73/BOB

If you are talking about W2AAF he passed away...check out this URL
http://www.eham.net/friends/displaystory/2052

I live on LI and although I never knew him too well, when he used to summer in the Virgin Islands, I worked him once from St Croix to St John (where he was staying)...

W8JI-s page on amplifiers is one of the best there is, and on
http://www.w8ji.com/neutralizing__amplifier.htm
he shows a circuit for neutralizing a SB200 and similar  amps, but the connection marked STUB pla I don't understand...Can someone please clarify.  Just as Tom mentioned in his site, indeed my SB200 has the plate resonance, and maximum power at different points...BOB

I have used the OCF dipole, and it worked very well, but I found that because of the way it was configured right across the top of the house, there was more RF in the house than I have ever noticed before, with any center fed dipole..I could see it on the RF sniffer in the shack, and hear it when it rang my kitchen phone...I believe that most non center fed type antennas might share that trait...
   Anyone have any similar happenings?

HORNET or SWAN...

NEED TO NEUTRALIZE MY 101ZD, BUT I DON'T LIKE THE Ip DIP AND Po MAX METHOD...THE UNIT DOES NOT HAVE A SWITCH TO KILL THE SCREEN...ANY SUGGESTIONS

I have been trying to find out if my original issued call of 1958 K2LGO, is actually a re-issue from sometimes in 1952-1957, as I have talked to guys with similar calls that we're issued in the earlier 50-s..Anyone have a callbook from those years that can help me..BOB

HAD TO DRIVE OVER 250 MILES EACH WAY TO GET THERE, BUT IT WAS WORTH IT..I COULD ONLY STAY ON SATURDAY, BUT I LOVE THE WAY THEY RUN THE HAMFEST...THEY HAVE A GREAT VENUE, AND THEY ARE NOT OVER REGULATED LIKE SOME HAMFESTS I HAVE ATTENDED.  THEY OPEN UP THE GATES TO SELLERS ON FRIDAY EVENING AT 5PM, AND FROM THEN ON SELLERS CAN COME AND GO AS THEY PLEASE...GREAT HAMFEST..

WHAT ARE THOSE NUMEROUS DIGITAL SIGNALS ON THE LOW END OF 40 IN THE EVENINGS, HERE ON THE EAST COAST???