The PHILCO Phorum

Hi:

Restoring a Philco 42-380X that did not work. As recommended by the forum I replaced the 3 electrolytics and it came back to life. I then replaced most of the other caps to complete the job. The radio has five preset stations by push button and three other bands that are tunable. The radio's reception was pretty good and improving with each cap replacement until the problem struck. Yesterday I cleaned the outer chassis with some fine steel wool and later blew it clean with compressed air (about 80 psi, not to smart on my part) When I turned the radio back on to test it the five preset stations worked as before but there is absolutely no reception on the other three bands where before there was on all three before. I suspected that the high pressure air might have broken a connection or something related, but can find nothing as of yet. What happened, please any and all suggestions and recommendation on what to check and how to fix same is greatly appreciated, I'm desperate! And yes I will not use 80 psi again when blowing debris clean from the radio again.

On a different note, as a newbie I profess my ignorance in electronics and radio repair. But there are many of you out there who are the; whiz kids, the electronic elite, and the old times who hold the secrets to this profession and we the newbies need your understanding and help. If the information repair, and restoration of these radios are not shared on a more consistent bases this information and hobby dies with you! I've note on some forums that various restorers questions go unanswered, where others are viewed by 200 or more people and one 1-2 people stop to answer their question. As to those questions responded to they are usually answered by the same people most of the time. I tend to believe there are a lot more knowledgeable people out there than just these few, but they are the only ones giving answers. Please, there are many things I/we do not know or understand and you do. We are your students and you are our teachers, hope, and a great source of knowledge that makes the restoration of old radios possible. So, in light of this please get in there and share, teach, educate, and admonish where necessary, but for heavens sake get in the fight and keep this work going, WE NEED YOU! I'm not complaining, rather challenging you to be involved and help us, the newbies who want to know and carry on this hobby. Granted some questions are stupid to you but there not so stupid to us who don't know. Yes, we are all busy and have other things to do, but some helped you at one time so pass it on. Thanks for you time and consideration I'll get off the soap box now. God bless one and all.

Just another newbie,


Dave B.

Check for steel wool fibers shorting the tuning cap?

Hi Dave

Hopefully, this is a lesson learned. Not so much about the 80 psi, but about the steel wool.

It is best to never use steel wool around electronic circuitry. Steel wool fibers are conductive. They can go anywhere and everywhere. They can get in between plates of your tuning condenser. They can get into trimmer condensers, IF transformers, you name it.

I suspect if the 80 psi had broken a lead wire, you would have found it by now.

Since you have reception on the preset pushbuttons, then chances are your set's IF transformers are OK. I would be looking for stray fibers between the plates of the tuning condenser, as Doug K. mentioned, and the contacts of the three tuning band pushbuttons. Heavy use of contact cleaner in conjunction with careful use of a toothbrush on the contacts of the pushbutton assembly is something you may try.

Well Dave, I did the same thing once! Check your trimmer capacitors. The compressed ain can break the mica.
Steve

Hi All

Doug K, what part is the tuning cap, by cap do you mean capacitor, and how can I check it, I'm a newbie? Ron, thank you I will take the brush to it, gently, and clean away. Steve, where do I find the trimmer capacitors. I purchase a cap kit and replaced all but three of the paper capacitors are there others I should check. To all, thank you so very much for your assistance and Ron, you are always there. To further explain what I am realizing on the three bands, the response I am getting is like when you are between stations, it's a hash or just noise, almost as if there is some station there, but nothing will tune in on either of the three bands, I will try your suggestions, any other advise will be greatly received.


Dave B

Hi Dave, you must check between the plates of the tuner, any plates touching or foreign material shorting them will kill reception. There should be AIR gaps between them!