01-15-2010, 10:45 AM
Funny about those rubber-insulated wires. I've electronically restored 5 1/2 of these 1940-42 radios with chasses similar to the 41-280. Most of the rubber-insulated wires were crumbled, but about 10% to 20% of the rubber wires are just as soft and supple as the day they were made. One wire will be crumbled to pieces, and the one next to it will be fine. Generally, I replace 'em all, since I usually need to desolder them anyway to change a cap or resistor, but I have left in place a few supple wires if an end is too difficult to reach or something.
On the 42-355 I recently finished, most of the rubber wires were crumbling, but on the band switch all the rubber wires were good. I started to replace the band switch wires, but eventually decided to leave them alone. I'm working on another 42-355 now, and all of the band switch wires are crumbling. There isn't a rubber wire anywhere in that radio that hasn't crumbled.
On the 42-355 I recently finished, most of the rubber wires were crumbling, but on the band switch all the rubber wires were good. I started to replace the band switch wires, but eventually decided to leave them alone. I'm working on another 42-355 now, and all of the band switch wires are crumbling. There isn't a rubber wire anywhere in that radio that hasn't crumbled.
John Honeycutt
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