A Partial Block Diagram of the HW-32A
The why it doesn't work boils down to a simple two corks in the bottle L2 and L3 and associated circuitry. These two Inductors (transformers) are in both the Receive and Transmit Paths. If there is something awry in either one or both of these circuits, then you will have issues in Transmit and Receive. The faint received signals and low output are the symptoms. BTW V5 and V8A both test good so not a tube issue per se. In fact, a retest of all tubes shows all are hot!
These two inductors are in closed shielded cans and only accessible through a bottom hole. Once set they are intended to be forgotten. This suggests broad band by design. Previously I removed both inductors from the chassis and opened up the cans. In L3 there was a strange bit of an add on. The cans are closed for a reason -- they are critical to the proper operation and Heathkit was trying to protect us from the accidental use of the Golden Screwdriver.
At the top of the inductor core inside the shielded can was a small glass bead and I think its purpose was to prevent the adjustable core from transiting outside the coil form and to anchor the core in the can. Yes, it popped out never to be found.
Long ago I bought a bargain HW-18 Civil Air Patrol two channel SSB transceiver. It is a similar design as the HW-32A and has an L2 and L3 intact. However, this L3 Coil has an open top and the cores can be adjusted from the top. So, I have a fall back to adapt the HW-18 L3 to the HW-32A should that be necessary.
DO NOT TRUST YOUR MEMORY... IT WILL LIE TO YOU AND MINE DID!
Here I have been going on about the 4 Pole Crystal Filter being 3395 kHz. It's Not. The Nominal Center Frequency is 2305 kHz. I spotted that when I was creating a large schematic from several PDF page found on the Internet. The Carrier Frequencies are 2303.3 kHz and 2306.7 kHz as noted on the drawing. So, we will need to amend our calculations and the sketch. RTFM applies very well here.
Next is a schematic of the heterodyne VFO portion of the HW-32A. Essentially a VFO operating between 1618.300 kHz and 1968.300 kHz (near the AM broadcast band) when down mixed with an 18.275 MHz signal yields a LO range of 16.656700 to 16.306700 MHz. Now subtract 2306.7 (USB VFO) and we get 14.000MHz to 14.350MHz. Perfect and this will work with the JF3HZB Analog Dial sketch.
Where the Plate of the 6BE6 connects with L5 we will need a small value but high voltage ceramic cap and this becomes the injection point of CLK0. V13 and V14 are simply removed and their filament source voltage for these two tubes can be fed to a DC rectifier and three terminal regulator which will then be the source power for the ESP32 and Si5351.
This is not a one and done project but will take more than one month--maybe three. Fixing the stock HW-32A remains Job#1 and once there we can add the digital LO and the JF3HZB dial.
Them that know can make it go.
Holy Moly! Just saw where Pope Leo has an event that is sold out the same day as you know who's birthday. Scary thought: Does Pope Leo meet the qualifications to be POTUS 48? Hmm you can tick those off but certainly in the zone. He is already a Head of State, US Born and over 35 and well connected here on earth and beyond. [This is an endless rabbit hole.]
73's
Pete N6QW