An older radio- I would re-format the capacitors, slowly. I would use a Vari-ac transformer and bring up the power at 20% at a time. Do this over a 24-hour period increasing every 4 hours till you get to full power. I did this for an old Eikco capacitor checker. Green tube version. It works now and no magic smoke came out. I can't find the Vari-ac right now.
Thanks, Brian. I'm most concerned about the caps. Since the radio is battery operated, I'm not sure how to use a Variac to ramp up the power. I'm pretty sure there is a way to bypass the battery power source. I will research it :-)
The easy-mode might be fitting AA batteries instead of C cells to limit current (they are the same length), and making a few "dummy cells" to slowly bring up the voltage by replacing the dummy cells with real battery cells one at a time.
I seem to recall that the transistors are socketed, and the sockets sometimes get a bit tarnished, gently re-seating the transistors may help if it seems deaf. The other thing, if I recall correctly, is that the transistors were germanium point-contact types, and may have a shorter life expectancy than the silicon ones.
But, all in all, it's a nice little radio, and I'm sure once you get it going it'll be a lot of enjoyment.
Tom,
An older radio- I would re-format the capacitors, slowly. I would use a Vari-ac transformer and bring up the power at 20% at a time. Do this over a 24-hour period increasing every 4 hours till you get to full power. I did this for an old Eikco capacitor checker. Green tube version. It works now and no magic smoke came out. I can't find the Vari-ac right now.
Brian NT7Y
Thanks, Brian. I'm most concerned about the caps. Since the radio is battery operated, I'm not sure how to use a Variac to ramp up the power. I'm pretty sure there is a way to bypass the battery power source. I will research it :-)
The easy-mode might be fitting AA batteries instead of C cells to limit current (they are the same length), and making a few "dummy cells" to slowly bring up the voltage by replacing the dummy cells with real battery cells one at a time.
I love this idea. Thank you!
Tom,
I seem to recall that the transistors are socketed, and the sockets sometimes get a bit tarnished, gently re-seating the transistors may help if it seems deaf. The other thing, if I recall correctly, is that the transistors were germanium point-contact types, and may have a shorter life expectancy than the silicon ones.
But, all in all, it's a nice little radio, and I'm sure once you get it going it'll be a lot of enjoyment.
73,
Dave
KF7JAF