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Pulled out my 37-650 tonight - Printable Version

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Pulled out my 37-650 tonight - hsusmann - 12-26-2013

Just pulled out an old 37-650 I've owned for years but
never got to. Been in the back of my basement all this
time.

Looks like a hard radio to work on, with some paper
caps buried deep under some trimmer caps in the
center section.

I saw one older thread here about a 37-650 and
it didn't seem like it took much to get it working.

I will need a new dial piece and also the speaker
is totally shot.

I'm trying to figure out if I should just scrap the
radio or give it a try. Cabinet is not too bad.

Will post some pictures soon.

Anyone out there have any advice?

Thanks!

Herb S.
Ithaca NY

RE: Pulled out my 37-650 tonight - morzh - 12-26-2013

For me a radio is 90% as good as the cabinet is. The chassis always can be dealt with unless (for me - there are some folks for whom it is not a deterrent) it is rusty as heck, then I would just hunt one in a better shape.

RE: Pulled out my 37-650 tonight - AI2V - 12-26-2013

Go for fixing up the chassis! It's not difficult at all to get at the deep down caps in the RF section. There are about 7 wires that go into the RF section; these are easily unsoldered and marked with tape. The entire RF stage comes out rather easily and once out, the sides come off with three screws each. From there you can access anything in the RF stage easily. A first-time RF section removal might take about 20 minutes. You can pull out the band switch rod without the switch rotors falling out. The RF band switch sections can be easily removed without fear of messing up the positions- each stage has a notch that will mate with a little bump on the end of switch shaft. A 37-650 is a terrific radio and always worth the effort.

RE: Pulled out my 37-650 tonight - Bradley Rush - 12-26-2013

i say fix but would like to see a pic if you have it.

RE: Pulled out my 37-650 tonight - hsusmann - 12-26-2013

OK, thanks for the advice. I got busy today on
something else so don't have any pictures yet.
Will try to get them uploaded here over the weekend.

I was looking at it in more detail and the chassis
itself looks like it's intact. I did notice that one
of the windings on one of the RF coils is messed up,
there are tiny copper wire ends sticking out.

So, it looks like I'll have to rewind that part of the
coil. I hope someone knows how many turns go on!

Will get to this in the next couple of weeks probably.

First to see if the power transformer is good...

Herb S.
Ithaca NY

RE: Pulled out my 37-650 tonight - hsusmann - 12-29-2013

Finally some pictures of my 37-650

First the cabinet. Can anyone tell me
if this is the correct grille cloth? somthing
tells me it was changed sometime in the
past from the original.

Also, how does one upload pictures on this forum?
I have attached one picture as an attachment but
I see other posts with pictures embedded in the
post. I tried the Phorum Help but it did not
answer my question.

Thanks,

Herb S.
Ithaca NY

RE: Pulled out my 37-650 tonight - hsusmann - 12-29-2013

OK, after posting my reply I see that my attached photo
does show up in the post.

I will try posting more than one picture as attachments to
this post and see what happens...

Herb S.

RE: Pulled out my 37-650 tonight - morzh - 12-29-2013

I tell you this: if you are good with cabinetry or want to make it a learning project (if you are not) - go for it.
I would never take on a cabinet in this shape - I saw better ones going to pyre in Kutztown.

But...not to discourage you, as I said, if you are good with these kinds of stuff - it can be resurrected.

RE: Pulled out my 37-650 tonight - hsusmann - 12-29-2013

Sorry for being such a newbie on this Phorum.
I will now comment on the pictures uploaded
in the previous post:

I see some cracks on the curved pieces of veneer
(both sides). I am going to have to research how
to repair these.

Also there are two smallish pieces of veneer
missing on the top.

I will post some pictures of the chassis in the
next couple of days. I have started re-capping
the chassis and have gotten pretty far already.

I was able to separate the RF chassis from
the IF/Audio chassis OK. I will need to find
a source of the rubber grommets that suspend
the RF chassis on the main chassis. So far, so good!

Thanks,

Herb S.
Ithaca NY

RE: Pulled out my 37-650 tonight - hsusmann - 12-29-2013

morzh:

Actually that is my weakness: cabinet refinishing.
I am great with the electronics but don't have much
experience with the cabinet refinishing at all.

This could be my learning project!

Herb S.

RE: Pulled out my 37-650 tonight - morzh - 12-29-2013

Well then, go for it and make us proud!

RE: Pulled out my 37-650 tonight - hsusmann - 12-29-2013

Final post for tonight:

I just did some searching and it looks like my
cabinet has been stained or painted or something
all one dark brown color!

I had no idea what they are supposed to look like
but after seeing some pictures on this Phorum
and also other places online I see that mine
has been worked over before.

I will have to see if I want to try to restore
this cabinet or not.

Maybe I'll just get the chassis working and
put it in the cabinet and call it "done".

Herb S.

RE: Pulled out my 37-650 tonight - morzh - 12-29-2013

I was about to say that: the way it peels it looks like it was painted or something of the sort, the color is just hideous.

Well, you are not thinking of salvaging the color, do you? I think it all has to go, and then all has to be refinished from scratch.

RE: Pulled out my 37-650 tonight - hsusmann - 12-29-2013

morzh:

This is my problem: I know so little about restoring cabinets
that I have a big learning curve to go through I think, especially
on this one.

Does one start by using some kind of stripper?

Or do you just start sanding?

I saw a youtube once about how to fix the veneer
at the curved sides. Will have to start poking around
and get on the leaning curve if I'm going to attempt this
one!

Herb S.

RE: Pulled out my 37-650 tonight - morzh - 12-29-2013

Well, let's wait for the experts to enter the conversation. There are folks here who know a lot about it. As I said, I am not really much of a cabinetry guy, I am more into electronics.