[Jamie]

Unhooked wires are the perfect excuse to learn how to read a schematic! It seems impossible at first, but once you do it, you'll realize that it isn't hard at all. Kind of like when you were a kid, trying to tie yours shoelaces. I remember my breakthrough... I had a Philco 620 that hummed no matter what I did. Mondial, Brenda and Morzh walked me through finding the wiring error. At that point, it was like everything became clear. You can fix it!

[tab10672]

Instead of buying another radio you wont be able to electronicly repair, put the money into test equipment that would make future radio projects eisier to work on.

[OldRestorer]

Maybe when I get a little better I can try this radio wiring but I have others that would be easier to learn on.

Yes Todd, that is my plan. I am buying a tube tester and looking into other tools.

Kirk

[Jamie]

Get a good tube tester with sockets for all kinds of tubes. Don't make the mistake of getting a small tester with only four or five sockets (don't ask me how I know this).

You will need -
Tube Tester - $120
DMM (Digital Multi-meter) - $45
Signal Generator - $50
Isolation Transformer (or a dim bulb tester, if money is tight) - $50

About $275

Also good to have -
Variac - $50
Vacuum Tube Volt Meter - $30
decent soldering station - $100
heat gun - $30

All totalled, less than $500 (Ebay prices! .. Much much less if you find it on CL or estate sales). If I forgot anything, please remind me.

Your cabinet repair is excellent, but there is nothing like knowing you can fix most any radio. I used to just focus on cabinets too, but once I got the hang of the electronics, my enjoyment of the hobby quadrupled (and I still have a LOT to learn). Don't be intimidated by any radio... jump right in there and get to work. You will surprise yourself. You're a smart guy, you will learn quickly.

You will only "get better" by working on the tough jobs. You can already do "easy" radios. That radio has loose wires? Pick a known point, any point - a tube, a control knob, the power cord - find it on the schematic and use a highlighter to trace it out, correcting errors as you go, checking resistors, replacing caps. It sounds like a real chore, but it isn't. And the first time you flip the switch and that radio plays... and you know YOU did it - there is nothing like it. You did a BEAUTIFUL job refinishing that set... it deserves an equal electronic restoration. You can do it.

[tab10672]

A signal tracer is nice to have also. For those you have restored but still wont work.

[skyscraper]

I would put a frequency counter under good to have.

[PhilcoJohn]

I would restore her and see how she sounds when completed. You could always put it up for sale on the forums page. I would really not like to see it get parted out. Just my 2 cents, If it means anything.

[OldRestorer]

She will definitely not be parted out. I would never part out a radio survivor.


Problem is I have 2 PT-69's, an 84B, a Transitone, a 45, a 62, a Crosley, 2 Halsons, a Halli S-40B, and the GE LC-759 that all need electrical help. Some are dead, some are half alive and hum, some light up but nothing else.

I will have to put the names in a hat and pick one at random to begin my electronic journey.

If I make it to Kutztown I will look for all the test equipment.

What are the they in order of most important?

Kirk

[tab10672]

In my opinion....
1-tube tester,
2-signal tracer,
3-signal generator,
4-analog meter (cheapest/easiest piece of equipment to peak alignment, for me anyway)
I left out the most important because I know you have one..digital meter

Keep in mind that just like the radios most equipment you find at the meets will need restored-caps,resistors etc.

[Jamie]

I agree with Tab, but don't forget the safety items - Isolation transformer and a variac. I use both on every single radio I work on.

The expense of technical equipment seems like a lot, but remember - you will use these items on every radio. These tools will last forever too. Once you buy them, you are set up for a long time. Get good ones and learn how to use them. Instead of buying more radios, start buying these items.

[Eliot Ness]

Yeah Kirk, if you're going to delay the purchase of variac at least build a simple and inexpensive DIM BULB tester:

http://www.antiqueradio.org/dimbulb.htm

That might save you from frying a power transformer due to bad or incorrectly installed capacitors or other components.

An isolation transformer is not a bad idea either, especially if you start working on sets without a power transformer. If you can find a good buy on a BK Precision 1655 or a Sencore PR57 these combine a variac and isolation transformer into one unit (with handy built-in metering).

[codefox1]

If you happen upon some old fashioned analog ammeters, they're great, I have 100ma,500 ma, 1 amp, 3 amp DC meters, and a couple of AC versions which I haven't used in years. Put appropriate range meter at head of the voltage divider circuit and you can find out in seconds whether you have a problem, in which case, shut down immediately.

[OldRestorer]

I got this offer today but have no idea what the heck he is offering, lol

He said:
I have an Eico model 625 tube tester a Eico model 324 gen. an Eico model 147a signal tracer with a new heathkit model pk3 probe. and a galaxy mic tester mt plus. all .have manuals and work good. Will sale all together . 350.00 plus shiping

Are these good models and is the price good?

[Mondial]

Seems way too expensive to me. Maybe $200 for everything.

[tab10672]

Look for a "mutual conductance" tube tester instead of an "emissions" tester. They are a little more expensive but they will find problems with tubes the an emission tester wont. A mc tester can also test emission but an emission tester may say the tube is 100% but the tube may fail under operation which would make you think something else is wrong with the radio.