ah!, you are correct, I swapped R97 and R98 while typing.
Q9 has fresh thermal paste and seems to be tight to the heatsink.

R97 is 100 ohms
When voltage across R98 is 5VDC then R97 is 0VDC and the voltage across R41 is 7.4VDC

Thanks g1 and saturated. When the VARIAC is at about 28-30VAC there is 5VDC across R97, and -1VDC at the output. Current draw is still negligible.

I am measuring current as well, so far it stays very low. I'll try upping the AC voltage today. I'm just worried about R97 burning up, or Q4 shorting again. What do you think I should look for next?
Also, what I am experiencing is almost identical to this post: https://www.ssguitar.com/index.php?topic=4235.msg42173#msg42173
Thanks again for the help

Greetings, I am having an almost identical problem with a Hartke A35 here:
https://www.ssguitar.com/index.php?topic=5343.0
Thanks for any help with this

     - Jesse

At this point I have tested and/or replaced most components in the output section. With the input shorted, I am seeing about -1v DC at the output when the VARIAC is at about 45VAC.Any thoughts on where to look next for issues?

Schematic for Hartke A35

Greetings, I have been attempting to repair a Hartke A35 amplifier.
I am using a Variac, and an 8ohm Dummy Load during testing.
When I received the amp, Q8 and R51 were clearly damaged. I have replaced Q7, Q8, Q9, R50, R51, D13 & D14.
After replacing these parts I slowly powered it up again, this time causing Q4 to fail (a short from Emitter to Collector), and R97 is starting to burn up.
I then replaced Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, as well as C23, C61, & C64, (R42 measures ok).
Something is still drawing too much current through R97 and causing it to overheat. (R98 seems ok)
With R97 lifted I have + 33 & - 33 volts on the V+ & V-
Does anyone have any ideas of what else to check, or what could be wrong?
Thank you for any assistance!

     -Jesse