Did some more checks, and after tapping on one section of the bandswitch, I saw the ALC level changing during tune. So I shot it some more with deox, and the level is improved but still low. Also changed the driver tube but no real difference. One site called hybridrestore had an article that says on the 530, 10m needs more carrier level, and that helped but there's still not a really high level of reading on the ALC scale, perhaps half way between the markers.

I also put the cal function on, and checked the s meter levels, and I get about a 7 on all the bands, except 80 and 160 which are about a 5 even when tuning the drive control. I think I was previously told this is not right, and to perform the alignment in the SM as you said. The band switch seems aligned ok, so I guess I will try the SM alignment. What page is it that I ought to start with in the manual?

Quote Originally Posted by N8YX View Post
Look at the timing of all the decks. Trace out the infamous L41, which is part of the 160M circuit and then verify the PCB connections to the various 160M front-end coils. Look to see where the wiper of each wafer is in relationship to one another - it would be almost impossible to get the deck off by 180 degrees and have the radio work at all.

One of those decks controls the logic which changes the radio's bands via counter and PLL units. Do the others line up with it when the band switch is set to a given band?

If yes to all the above, you need to align the RX front end and TX drive preselector tuning per the service manual. Start with 10M and work your way through each lower band successively. It's important to do them in order.