07-04-2014, 10:45 AM
Happy Independence Day! 
This morning I gave the 37-690 a complete alignment. For those of you who have never done this on a 37-690 or 37-116, let me tell you that this is no easy task!
Here is the 37-690 spread out across my workbench:
[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...e00002.jpg]
The dial lamp has been replaced with an LED light from Pinball Life. It is warm white in color, and looks just like an incandescent:
[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...e00003.jpg]
Observations:
1. The radio does not slowly come up - it comes on, hesitates for a few seconds, and then the audio "pops" in.
2. Band 2 is dead - typical on almost every 37 and 38-690.
3. The two 50 watt heatsink resistors I used to replace the defective Candohm get HOT HOT HOT after two hours of operation. But these are more substantial than the two-section Candohm they replaced.
4. The speaker's outer cone is separating from the inner, stiffer cone. This can be easily repaired with some fabric glue, however.
5. Whoever worked on this set last really cut some corners. Take a look at one of the four Magnetic Tuning lamps:
[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...e00004.jpg]
Naah, don't bother rebuilding the lamp socket - just solder the 6.3 volt "hot" lead to the end of the lamp!
If I can, I am going to rebuild these four lamp sockets the right way, and then stop at that point. It plays very well and I think my buddy will be happy with it overall. While it isn't 100% perfect, it is in better shape than it was when I acquired it.
Thoughts? Comments?
This morning I gave the 37-690 a complete alignment. For those of you who have never done this on a 37-690 or 37-116, let me tell you that this is no easy task!
Here is the 37-690 spread out across my workbench:
[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...e00002.jpg]
The dial lamp has been replaced with an LED light from Pinball Life. It is warm white in color, and looks just like an incandescent:
[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...e00003.jpg]
Observations:
1. The radio does not slowly come up - it comes on, hesitates for a few seconds, and then the audio "pops" in.
2. Band 2 is dead - typical on almost every 37 and 38-690.
3. The two 50 watt heatsink resistors I used to replace the defective Candohm get HOT HOT HOT after two hours of operation. But these are more substantial than the two-section Candohm they replaced.
4. The speaker's outer cone is separating from the inner, stiffer cone. This can be easily repaired with some fabric glue, however.
5. Whoever worked on this set last really cut some corners. Take a look at one of the four Magnetic Tuning lamps:
[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...e00004.jpg]
Naah, don't bother rebuilding the lamp socket - just solder the 6.3 volt "hot" lead to the end of the lamp!
If I can, I am going to rebuild these four lamp sockets the right way, and then stop at that point. It plays very well and I think my buddy will be happy with it overall. While it isn't 100% perfect, it is in better shape than it was when I acquired it.
Thoughts? Comments?
--
Ron Ramirez
Ferdinand IN
