Radio Repair Steps 

Very nice radio, your restoration brought her back among the living to once again serve man for another 40-50 years. Great video and wonderful restoration work on the old set. That was built back when the Radio was the centerpiece of the setting room. I can recall growing up in our old farm house which was built by my grandfather in 1910 and never saw the modernization of electric power or running water. At night back in the 1950's we would all gather in the living room, dad would have a kerosene lamp by his chair on a small end table. Atop the tall writing desk sat our prize radio, it ran on a large battery pack which cost money (according to Dad) and should never be played for just music. We loved hearing the Lone Ranger, Suspense and Johnny Dollar, Gunsmoke and Paladin. Great times, the theatre of the mind, a thing no longer appreciated by the younger generation Most recently I have been building small wifi radio sets that can access these programs over the web and play them back on my home built radio in a box type set. I have had some luck integrating these wifi builds into old radios so you can really turn back the time by playing say programing from the 40's and 50's on the sets made in the same period. I have done this both using a small FM transmitter into replica radios which have an FM band, and wiring into the old set's audio circuit and pushing the output from my WIFI receiver through that warm and wonderful sound of real tubes.

Oh yes, there are a number of people around the world interested in repairing antique radios and audio equipment. It has surprised me and it has been a lot of fun too. Thanks.

Thanks for sharing your repair and 'rebirth' of that lovely vintage radio. It sounds wonderful!

Excellent video, fantastic content. Thank you so very much. I love vintage tube powered equipment. Nothing sounds better or more comforting than the warm sound of a tube amplifier.

Excellent breakdown of the steps ... already eased my mind! I have tons of old motherboards with many of these capacitors and resistors for a swap out

Thank you for your calm, methodical approach to this "art". I have a Blaupunkt Stuttgart 6V/12V car tube/valve radio to look at that I think was run on 12V before being internally switched from 6V. Your videos have given me more confidence and I now feel less daunted by the prospect. Thank you Ian, England

THANKS! Both books was a six year project. I am so glad you find the information useful too. They were interest projects plan, map out and execute. I think the ebook should be very useful with its active links in the book. Thanks again, Rick

Thanks CastleVintners That is a beautiful radio, you don't see to many of those Stromberg Carlson AWP-8 portable radios. Very glad to hear you got it working again.

1 minute in and I already know that I won't be able to do this. But I can't stop watching!

Thanks for this great advice! I know a lot about some electronics ( I think) but not much about radio or vacuum tube. My brother-in-law had a radio from his childhood that was a really important keepsake for him (parents both deceased) but it didn't work. As he said, "other than you Andy, I don't even know who would be interested in looking at it. Do the best you can!" It's a stromberg carlson AWP-8. Following your advice, capacitors and cleaning was enough to make it work again!

Beautiful, concise video as are all of yours. Thank you for providing such excellent radio renovation tutorials.

Very well performed and beautiful radio you have brought to life again.thanks.

lol. Awhile back I did a video on my workbench and my opening statement was "This is an extremely rare event, my workbench is clean." Thanks.

Thank you sir for that info ,I love watching your video,it's a great learning time for me and it's fun to watch a master at work

I have started trying to fix tube radios I am 3 for 3 ,but I need to learn how to check IF cans ,I am learning from all the amazing tech on you tube ,I love your site and two or three more,the more I learn the more I can do .I keeping to simple AA5 radios tell I can learn a lot more,and start getting more gear.thanks for your channel

Great video, this was very interesting and informative. The last cap job I did, I also just clipped out the old caps, and used the exhisting wiring. It is a lot easier, especially if 2 or 3 wires are soldered on the same tube socket. pin. You do a very thorough job on your radio repairs.

Hey Steve Thanks. I broke a tube socket once and that was a real hassle to replace. Then I though, man, I am sure glade it was not a wafer switch, that would be a disaster. So this is what I do now and it works quite will.

hi i like to repair and collect old radios glad to see that other people have this hobby too john

Very helpful presentation of the procedure. What I often do is hold onto the old electrolytics (and wax caps), hollow them out from the bottom, and install the new, smaller caps inside with hot glue, and run wires out. Brown or black colored hot glue works well for this. That way, the authentic look can be preserved underneath the chassis.

Wow, I have enjoyed your video very much, you know this very well too, I love also old radios ,this one you fixed sounds very good even with the speaker out of the cabinet,, congratulations.

That a very clean repair very thorough,.now that's the kind of radio anyone he would be glad to own,I can never find a restore tube radio I can afford,but I do love their sound

Your videos are inspiring. I am very thankful that you share your knowledge with us. When you share what YOU know, you save everyone lots of time. It is obvious that you have invested a lot of time to learn what you know about electronics. I just want you to know that I really value your curiosity of electronics, and appreciate the willingness to share your knowledge. Thank You!

ohhh man. I need a variac and a tube tester for sure, I always have to take my chances when I try out a freshly recapped radio. I don't get to do it often, but when I do I'd rather be safe than sorry. I love that moment when the radio just comes to life! :D

Excellent learning experience. One of your best videos. Thanks and 73, and may run across you at the Benson Hamfest in the fall.

Thanks for the nice video. I am in the process of re-capping a Hallicrafters S-40B shortwave receiver. I have found your videos very helpful.73 Paul AA1SU

Thanks. Neat vids. A friend called me the other day and said he just Googled my name and added radio at the end. He said I was everywhere.

Oh baggies are very useful. It is amazing how little parts can disappear if I don't bag them. Also I bag the knobs separately so they do not get scratched.

YES YOU DO! And you need an ISOLATION transformer also. You can usually get some good deals at Ham Fests on VARIACs, TUBETESTERs, ISOLATION transformers, particularly if you buy them from the same person. Yep the first time the radio starts to play is still magical to me too. Thanks.

Well done. Thanks for posting.

Thanks for your great video and thanks for the good lighting in your videos.

Set must have had a near-short in the past if the fuse resistor was so high. I like it when clients bring in sets like these little tabletops, I can have them playing and looking like new in an afternoon.

When I rebuilt that big Magnavox Belvedere chassis, I removed almost all of the original caps completely, and put new ones in their place. There were a couple where I had to attach to the old leads as you mention, because the leads were too short on the new caps. Though I think if it weren't for having my de-soldering gun, I probably would have left the old leads in place :-)

A very interesting video and the old radio looks just great...

Beautiful old radio.

Most AA5 type radios are great for the beginners. The chassis are big and the parts are readily available. Thanks.

Richard...Thanks so much for the link to your book! After seeing that I realized who you were. I have your "The All-American Five Radio" in my library. I purchased it about a year ago. I have read it several times and continue to read it over. It takes me a while to really understand things and your book helps me along...love it! (I have almost as many radio books as radios.)

Very nicely done! I'll be watching more of your videos. Thank you!

@Subaro0o The hot side still goes to the switch. The earth ground I would try putting a 2.2 MFD @ 630 WDC between it and the chassis.

I have been trying to find a decent method to mounting some new filter caps in a 6 tube Motorola ac/dc set I’ve got, I could make a tie strip work. I’d left the original mounting in there, and from seeing how you mounted it mechanically I think that’s a lot better than my floating caps! Thank you so much!

I really love your work. I am from North Carolina as well pleasure to meet you!

I am at a loss to see thumbs downs here.....obviously just trolls that have nothing better to do than surf RU-vid pressing thumbs down...... This was a great video, very clear and gives a no nonsense look at radio restoration at the electronic end of the job.....well done !

, thank you so much for this it really showed me a lot I'd love to pick your mind just starting with radio is awesome

@bigredmachine878 Yes most of the time I use the old leads and connect the new capacitor to them. To clean the old leads I use a fingernail file to shine them up a bit before soldering. That seems to work good.

nice cluttered work bench of a true radio repairman!

Nice radio great repair job ,very clean looking.

Great video man! I've got two RCA model 35x radios that I plan on fixing soon.

Thanks. I have a few European radios, so far they all have been great quality sets. I have two books available. The All-American Five Radio and The Vacuum Tube Shortwave Radio. I'll send you and email.

This was absolutely superb. Very helpful - THANK YOU!

I had a good friend who would spend hours refilling those Philco Bakelite capacitors that could not you see when the radio was in the cabinet. Then he would take the old filter capacitor off the chassis leaving the wholes you could see when the radio was in the cabinet. And he had been a Philco Engineer, I never did understand that one.

Hope it was successful!! Vacuum tube audio is a great sound. Thanks.

Thank you very much for the info ,it helps

Newbie here just getting ready to tackle 3-4 old Zenith and Philco console radios from the 30's and 40's! I've got books and RU-vid videos and God to help me! Wish me luck!

Thanks John, I have put it on my RU-vid too do list. Regards, Rick

Awesome, well written and thought out video.

Great Video, thanks. I'll be fixing an AA5 Hallicrafters S-38E soon. Good thing we're not neighbors-I'd be making myself a nuisance haha.

Rick, Excellent vid. Much needed info. I noticed this radio had a packaged circuit. Perhaps in the future you might consider a short vid about them and how they're shown on a schematic. I recently had to make a whole new packaged circuit on a chunk of perf board because someone had removed the original. It took me two days to figure out it was gone. :) Regards, John

you are a master I will need more time for understand the working of these jewels. In my Monitor radio, I have a noise when hasn´t a Station signal, but not very strong. I have 5, and 3 I repared. Sorry for my English.

Yes sir! I'll definitely have to look into that! I'll check Ebay first, since I don't know of any ham fests around here

@allamericanfiveradio How do you go about soldering the new capacitors to the old cap. leads? I prefer to solder the new capacitors to the existing leads of the old capacitors as well, but I have a hard time making a good tight connection. Thanks for the help!

You are good at that.

@SpeakerFreak95 When I find it again I'll make note of the manufacturer and get back to you. I think is was made in Mexico, but still a nice speaker.

@toltec13 Hey Jorge You could try adding little higher MFD capacitor. And or add another resistor plus another filter cap. Some times the rectifier tube is the problem. But if the hum is very low I done bother. Rick

@Subaro0o Yes, there is a diagram in both my books. You download my free ebook from the link on my Channel in the "About me"

I the mid 40's all radio manufactures used that tube lineup for there table top radios.

Thanks usaamerica1 Generally you would replace capacitors or any part with an exact match, or as close as possible. If you have a capacitor rated at 500 volts you must replace it with another 500 volts or higher. Wax capacitors are filled with bees wax witch you can see at the ends of the capacitor. I’ll send you a download link to my E-book.

Great video! I'm trying to teach myself how to repair old radios but I have hit a wall on the cap replacement, I can do all the small single caps but not the large paper ones. My question is, do you fix radios for other people and can I contact you for help? Thank you.

I use my Weller soldering Gun for that. That will usually does the job. However the next time I go to an Amateur Radio Ham Fest I'm going to look for a high watt heavy duty soldering iron for just that purpose.

If the circuit diagram has values for the coils, otherwise mostly check to see if the reading is reasonable for the type of coil. Resistors I read in-circuit looking at the diagram, if something is in parallel it will read low. If they are discolored I just change them out. I replace all wax capacitors with 630WVDC. You may want to download my Ebook. The Vacuum Tube Shortwave Radio, go to my Channel Feed, third link down.

If it's not a very sophisticated radio I can AA5, suitable IF cans and oscillator coils are easily substituted. And this goes for most 30s 40s and 50s console radios too. However when you get into much more sophisticated radios like a Drake, you have to take from another Drake radio or try to find new old stock somewhere. I go through some of part replacement in my e-book, chapter 10.

Thanks. Near Raleigh.

Easier to understand then most guys . Now back to my 1956 Grundig .

Cool video! Thank you for sharing your process

It is easier and that is a plus, and you have must less likelihood of breaking something. That is very important, not to breaking something. That would increase the cost of the repair by a lot, might even stop it. Thanks.

I have worked on car radios. Depending on the problems with the radio, cost of repair maybe substantial.

Hey Gary, Most likely the hum is from the fluorescent bench lights. Rick

I know this comment is a little tardy, but I've working through your videos since I discovered them a couple weeks ago and they have awakened my interest in the electronics of my past. I have missed the magic of glowing of tubes that solid state devices just don't have. Thanks so much for your selfless giving through your wonderful videos. BTW - What is the reference software you were using in this video? All I could read was RadioView - ?????? Troubleshooters Manual?

Thank You. Great Video.

How do you check to make sure that the coils are okay? Do you need an LCR meter? Thanks for your videos!

Thanx Nice video, from mumbai india

Tubes are:12SA7;12SK7;12SQ7;50L6 and 35Z5. Thank you!!!!

Would you be able to work on my 56 Buick Sonomatic? Nobody has been in it in 56 years, it powers up but all I am getting is a constant volume "buz" sound. Thanks for taking the time to post this video...

That had to be a very low hours set. Nice find and repair!

@burntvalve86 I would try Play Things of the Passed. Or maybe attempt a repair on the coil.

Nice job Rick!

Possibly the electrolytic capacitors and the dioide in the power supply.

Hi Richard When you check the coils are you reading a value or just whether they are open or not. Also when you read resistors are you cutting one end to read the value. And lastly what type of capacitors are you using to replace the wax type in old radios. Thx Francisco

Thanks this really helped

Thanks brother from India

Greetings, I have couple tube radios that I have recapped with equivalent capacitors. Do these 6 tube radios run quiet or is there some hum to it.? My recap 6 tube radios have a slight hum, but another tube radio I recapped has a transformer and seen to run a bit quieter. Thanks Jorge H.

Great video, thanks!

I have an old radio that needs to be restored, do you take on this type of work?

I'm replacing a multi value filter cap can in an old amp, my soldering iron doesn't seem to have enough heat to solder the tabs to the chassis, can you offer some guidance?. Thanks.

I have a Philco 41-280 that needs to be restored... What State are you in? And how much ( roughly) to restore. It works, but needs wax capacitors replaced etc...

Thanks for the great video, It provides much information in a short concise time. I like that. But why do you need to check the coils? I would think that coils would be immortal. Air coils and slug tuned. Also, how do you check the coils? Do you check for continuity or breaks, or do you check the actual inductance? I just downloaded your book and it looks great. I will definitely give it a read. Just what i love to read too. You probably answer my questions there. thanks B

Thanks kafkaian, and good luck.

@SpeakerFreak95 I get most of my parts from Antique Electronic Supply (tubesandmoreDOTcom) and MOUSER Electronics (mouserDOTcom)

New belts for the cassette recorder, might need a new pinch roller too.

Hi there, nicely explained techniques, Thanks. I collect German ukw / fm 3D wooden table sets. Do you know any good books to teach repair methods? I'm in England. Ta, Joh.

@SorinG2010 Give me the tube list of you radio and I'll see if theres some information on it.

I need to replace capacitors in my old radio but I can't find the correct values. What values are the capacitors you use and where could I find them? Thanks again. :-)