Posts: 134
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Joined: Jun 2022
City: Marion
State, Province, Country: NY
I have recapped and replaced out of tolerance resistors and so on. Radio plays nicely on fairly strong stations. The problem is weak stations produce squealing when tuned in. I have touched and moved many wires which make the squeal go away but just moves up or down the scale a tiny bit while still on the same weak station. I have swapped out the oscillator, IF and detector tubes with no change. Grid wire to the detector is inside the tube shield. Like I say the stronger stations don't have this problem. An alignment has been done but noting the antenna trimmer does nothing. Signal generator set very low. Any idea what is causing the squealing?
Thanks,
Dan
Posts: 694
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City: S. Dartmouth
State, Province, Country: MA
All correct shields must be in place, all tubes correct no subs of any kind.
Check any soldered, riveted ground connections, DC measures of ground cannot detect a ground that has hidden corrosion, solder those riveted grounds to the chassis.
An open coil or a coil with resistance higher than the published specification.
A band switch that has been treated with a lubricant may be leaking. Sam lube on tube sockets can cause this. Clean all excess lube off with 91% alcohol, gently blow dry do not power until all alcohol is gone.
Check the AVC circuit for stray leakage and possible incorrect parts in the circuit.
Do, look for stray wire snips and larger solder blobs causing shorts. A misplaced bypass cap can be problematic too...
Look for calibration errors, a mica may be failing or failed. Calibration is often a clue other than mis-alignment.
GL
Chas
Pliny the younger
“nihil novum nihil varium nihil quod non semel spectasse sufficiat”
Posts: 134
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Joined: Jun 2022
City: Marion
State, Province, Country: NY
I have taken out the 2nd IF and found a problem or not. I believe the coils are litz wire. There is a very small strand tied to the wire leading out of the coil. That strand it a lot smaller than the coil wire. Problem is the coil wire is less than an inch long and is the inside of the coil. How am I ever going to solder that? I'm thinking that single strand might be my squealing. I have never tried to solder litz wire. I am concerned I may burn up the wire and then the coil is done for. Any suggestions?
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Litz is typically tinned by simply rubbing it with the soldering iron tip while immersed in solder (and a bit of rosin flux).
People who do not drink, do not smoke, do not eat red meat will one day feel really stupid lying there and dying from nothing.
Posts: 134
Threads: 26
Joined: Jun 2022
City: Marion
State, Province, Country: NY
I'm pretty sure I now have the litz wire soldered. This did not make any difference. Back in April I rewound the secondary of the oscillator and because the radio did not receive stations. After the rewind it did but I didn't pay attention to what the reception was like. I then prepared the radio for cleaning and restoration over the summer. It has been sitting since then until now. As I have said the radio plays good on strong stations but squeals on weak stations. I have gone over it with a fine tooth comb using the advice from Chas. Radio still squeals so I am starting to suspect the oscillator secondary rewind. Wondering if I did it backwards. Can anyone verify how it is supposed to be wound? I'm pretty sure I have the number of turns correct.