[RGK20m3]

I cleaned, lubed, and adjusted the shorting switch and it works as designed; I also removed its connection at the volume pot and still has issue. I replaced the 2nd detector/AVC tube, removed the grid reference and volume resistors from the AVC tube socket and terminal strip, and cleaned the phenolic between, then resoldered- now it seems to be generating an AVC voltage ( more negative at the AVC buss than the fixed bias), but still have issue of the volume dropping. Going to start using a signal generator to try to pinpoint what is actually going on. Stay tuned (pardon the pun)…..
What confused me on the Fluke was the “or less”. Do they mean less loading (higher resistance) or less resistance (higher loading)? At any rate, the DMM is showing some AVC voltage generation where it didn’t before (previously was less negative than the fixed bias). But still fades out, probing the B+ brings it back frequently.