This fellow needs to make make sure that he understands that repairing a transistor radio is all about repairing circuits, three circuits specifically. To start, I recommend that this fellow takes a step back and spends several evenings studying on his own about how a transistor radio works, what the innards do, how the antenna picks up a signal, what a schematic is for and such. Then we can guide him as he troubleshoots and does his repairs. This is where we need to lead this owner of 400 radios - how to clean the innards, how to do the basic checks, how to do the triage, how to think strategically about repairs. Is it dead? Does it make noise but no stations? Does it receive stations but with issues? Or is it OK?īased on the triage, then I know my next course of action, and away I go. Then, I do the standard basic check over: testing the power supply, inspecting the antenna condition, looking closely at the condition of the PCB. I'd give it a good cleaning to get corrosion and 50 years of gunk out of it. I'd treat each radio as if it was the only radio I had. That's not what I'd do, and I'm guessing that many others on this forum wouldn't do as well: a wholesale replacement of caps on 400 radios. Here's a guy with 400 or so radios, who has never tinkered with the innards of a radio, who wants to do things right, who is asking for help and the best collective advice we can give him is to replace the caps. Always make a note of the polarity before removing. Start off with the largest set, as it will have the biggest, and therefore easiest area to work on. Most six Transistor radios have 4 caps each, usually 2, maybe 3 values. Ten of each value will only be a buck or so. Given that most or all the sets operate on 6-9 volts, any working voltage rating above that (I think 16 volts is about the minimum value sold now) will work. Look over the sets and try to ID the values, but I would say you'll need 10, 22, 47, and 100 uF radial caps. You will also want to get a supply of Electrolytic caps. You will need a low wattage soldering "pencil", maybe 25-40 watts, solder wick, and ideally a solder sucker. Just search You Tube for "replacing capacitors" and you should find some videos. IF I RESELL ANYTHING I DONT KEEP I NEVER REFURBISH THE ITEM MYSELF, I KNOW COLLECTORS, LIKE MYSELF WOULD RATHER DO IT MYSELF. This takes a lot of skill, a newbie would have to be in this hobby for awhile to gain the experience and confidence of just repairing before taking it to that next level. On rare or desireable radios replacing parts that are visible can detract and devalue the set in collectors' eyes, who in some cases would rather buy a "mint" untouched original (even if non-working), then a working set with "eye sore" replacement parts, inexperienced soldering and other repairs.įor example, if I had a non-working rare or collectible set that required new electrolytic capacitors (which is as mentioned, the top causes of poor performance), and I wanted it to work, I would use the smallest modern parts available to "hide" them under the circuit board or install in original parts cases ("restuffing"). How you go about restoration can make or break the value. Resistors, ceramic disc capacitors, film capacitors, speakers, etc, are generally in good shape and not likely to fail or drift.Īny transistor radio I get and want to restore gets new electrolytic capacitors regardless of what is going on with the volume. Beyond that, less common, transistor failures/tin whiskers, PWB cracks, or transformer failures. The other problems are corroded battery terminals, failed volume control potentiometers or on/off switches, failed/corroded/open earphone jacks. At the very least, you will have to *at least* replace those, and then you might find other problems. In the vast majority of cases, replacing the electrolytic capacitors will restore the volume and is frequently the only problem. Now, is cleaning the guts the way to go? Deoxit or other safe electronic components cleaners? Where would I spray on these tiny things? I'm efficient on home repair and fixing things I'd just like a good over by an expert who's gone through this issue! Thanks a ton. They all pick up static or very low volume on the clear stations I can pick up. I recently inherited over 400 transistor radios from the 50s and early 60s.
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