11-12-2012, 11:59 PM
Yes, never trust ANY set until you remove it from the cabinet and have a look-see.
I like Dave Cantelon's statement about whether or not to replace your 70-year old wax/paper and electrolytic caps: "Would you drive your antique car on 70 year old NOS tires?"
Of course not. Electrolytics are first on the list due to the catastrophic effect they can have on your rectifier tube (cheap, easy) and your power transformer (un-cheap, un-easy). I learned this lesson the hard way when I trusted a previous fix on my RCA 263. TRY finding an RCA 263 power transformer.
BUT also bear in mind that several of the wax/paper caps in your set may also be connected between B+ in your set and ground. This can also have wonderful effects on your components that are also in the same B+ circuit. (another lesson learned the hard way).
I like Dave Cantelon's statement about whether or not to replace your 70-year old wax/paper and electrolytic caps: "Would you drive your antique car on 70 year old NOS tires?"
Of course not. Electrolytics are first on the list due to the catastrophic effect they can have on your rectifier tube (cheap, easy) and your power transformer (un-cheap, un-easy). I learned this lesson the hard way when I trusted a previous fix on my RCA 263. TRY finding an RCA 263 power transformer.
BUT also bear in mind that several of the wax/paper caps in your set may also be connected between B+ in your set and ground. This can also have wonderful effects on your components that are also in the same B+ circuit. (another lesson learned the hard way).