14-06-2012, 09:57 AM
I've re-glued the glass dial - it does not look pretty but at least it will allow me to put the set back together.
On the chassis I discovered that the AM tuning condenser was completely seized. Sorting this out entailed undoing the dial cord and removing the condenser completely from the chassis - that was good fun! It turns out that the pulley on the AM condenser (the horizontal one) cannot be removed as it fouls the FM one just above it. Theoretically this means removing the FM cords and pulley as well. However I figured out a way to get the AM one out without touching the FM one.
It turned out that the primary drive shaft for the tuning condenser was locked in its housing - seems like over the years the grease had completely hardened turning in effect into 'glue'. It took considerable force to remove it so the whole thing could be cleaned. Having sorted all that and put it back together I found that the plates on one of the condenser sections were shorting out. Some careful metal bending later and it seems to be OK now.
Next came the job of re fitting the condenser to the chassis and re-fitting the pulley and finally the cord. Job done, both mechanisms now work fine though I will have to do some final setting up of the positioning of the AM pulley once I get hold of some documentation.
Apart for the circuit diagram there doesn't seem to be too much info on this set around. I found a place that claims they can provide a proper service manual so I've invested $15 and we'll see if anything useful arrives in due course.
It's almost now at the stage where I can re-assemble it and put it on the shelf as I'v got some other projects to complete before I get back to this one.
You might be able to see an interesting previous repair in the photo - the clutch mechanism for FM is linked to the front key with two pieces of shoelace and an electrical connector - it works but hopefully I'll sort out something more appropriate later on.
Cheers, John
On the chassis I discovered that the AM tuning condenser was completely seized. Sorting this out entailed undoing the dial cord and removing the condenser completely from the chassis - that was good fun! It turns out that the pulley on the AM condenser (the horizontal one) cannot be removed as it fouls the FM one just above it. Theoretically this means removing the FM cords and pulley as well. However I figured out a way to get the AM one out without touching the FM one.
It turned out that the primary drive shaft for the tuning condenser was locked in its housing - seems like over the years the grease had completely hardened turning in effect into 'glue'. It took considerable force to remove it so the whole thing could be cleaned. Having sorted all that and put it back together I found that the plates on one of the condenser sections were shorting out. Some careful metal bending later and it seems to be OK now.
Next came the job of re fitting the condenser to the chassis and re-fitting the pulley and finally the cord. Job done, both mechanisms now work fine though I will have to do some final setting up of the positioning of the AM pulley once I get hold of some documentation.
Apart for the circuit diagram there doesn't seem to be too much info on this set around. I found a place that claims they can provide a proper service manual so I've invested $15 and we'll see if anything useful arrives in due course.
It's almost now at the stage where I can re-assemble it and put it on the shelf as I'v got some other projects to complete before I get back to this one.
You might be able to see an interesting previous repair in the photo - the clutch mechanism for FM is linked to the front key with two pieces of shoelace and an electrical connector - it works but hopefully I'll sort out something more appropriate later on.
Cheers, John
Time flies like an arrow, fruitflies like a banana!
