04-20-2013, 09:08 PM
Today finished recapping and replaced 3 resistors that were outside the acceptable boundaries.
Recapping replaced two electrolytics, 12uF, 10uF, 2uF and 4uF.
Weird thing: Philco employed two different paper caps, each one 0.01uF/400V. Not sure why, but of course both replaced by the same cap. Philco caps, unlike the Zenith ones, open easily and I did not have to drill out the caps - I just pulled them with pliers and they came out. Then I stuffed them with new French-American-Taiwanese mini- Leiden jars and that was it.
Anyway, removed the tubes, checked the transformer. I was afraid a little as the underside wires close to the place where the transformer wires come out were smeared with something tar-like. But tranny works fine and the output seems to be correct.
Checked all the tubes, all test fine except one that is on the weak side but not too bad and it should work.
Put the rectifier tube in, voltage is fine, so I soldered back the tuning cap and put the rest of the tubes in. Soldered back the speaker.
Turned it on, nothing. No voltages. After first jitters (OMG, something shorts) I realize that nothing smokes. So I quickly checked...you guessed it...the input voltage and it was zero. So I found the power cord (not original) has a breakage right where the wires go to the outlet plug.
Removed that, cut a new piece of a cloth-clad wire, soldered it in, plugged it in.
The B+ is OK, though rising very slow (the rectifier tube is testing good).
So I heared the static. Hooked the wire to the antenna input, same thing. The audio works, you can hear the volume regulator making some scratchy noises, static is there but no reception.
I know for a fact all the coils are OK.
So, tomorrow I will try signal generator starting with IF and then back up to the 1-st RF. Will see what it is.
PS. Need a new plug, preferably a Philco one.
Recapping replaced two electrolytics, 12uF, 10uF, 2uF and 4uF.
Weird thing: Philco employed two different paper caps, each one 0.01uF/400V. Not sure why, but of course both replaced by the same cap. Philco caps, unlike the Zenith ones, open easily and I did not have to drill out the caps - I just pulled them with pliers and they came out. Then I stuffed them with new French-American-Taiwanese mini- Leiden jars and that was it.
Anyway, removed the tubes, checked the transformer. I was afraid a little as the underside wires close to the place where the transformer wires come out were smeared with something tar-like. But tranny works fine and the output seems to be correct.
Checked all the tubes, all test fine except one that is on the weak side but not too bad and it should work.
Put the rectifier tube in, voltage is fine, so I soldered back the tuning cap and put the rest of the tubes in. Soldered back the speaker.
Turned it on, nothing. No voltages. After first jitters (OMG, something shorts) I realize that nothing smokes. So I quickly checked...you guessed it...the input voltage and it was zero. So I found the power cord (not original) has a breakage right where the wires go to the outlet plug.
Removed that, cut a new piece of a cloth-clad wire, soldered it in, plugged it in.
The B+ is OK, though rising very slow (the rectifier tube is testing good).
So I heared the static. Hooked the wire to the antenna input, same thing. The audio works, you can hear the volume regulator making some scratchy noises, static is there but no reception.
I know for a fact all the coils are OK.
So, tomorrow I will try signal generator starting with IF and then back up to the 1-st RF. Will see what it is.
PS. Need a new plug, preferably a Philco one.