I Have now finished re-capping the radio. I replaced the electrolytics and all the paper caps. On startup everything seems to check ok. The radio picks up approx 5 or 6 AM stations. There is plenty of volume. The only downside at the moment is a low static sound that is noticeable when the radio is on the station. When off the stations there is just a fairly low hum at what I imagine is the 50 cycle noise. Should I have the valves checked and if yes, does anyone know where I could get this done on the North side of Melbourne. The only other thing I want is one knob to buy if anyone has one to spare. (Brown) Would also appreciate what would be suitable, wire length etc, as an aerial for this set. Many thanks.
Terry

Standard wire length for most sets was 25 feet. Unless their is a heater cathode short, the valves are the least likely to cause hum.

Scratchy when not present, off the station, sounds like an alignment issue, more than a silver Mica Capacitor, which normally does that. After a set has had parts changed in the RF section, best practice says it should be re-aligned.

It may also be an idea to one at a time, carefully remove the valves & put them back to ensure contact. Make sure that the wire is all good & there is no bare wire touching valve shields etc.

Marc

Thanks Marc, I have had a pretty good look at wiring etc and seems OK. Do you know anyone North of Melbourne (I live in Sunbury) who would do an alignment (paid for of course) as I do not have the gear to do this. Any info would be much appreciated.
Terry

Hi Terry,

If your game you can do the alignment yourself. It can be done (carefully) without a signal generator. I subscribe to this website, it's been very helpful for me.

http://www.radio-workshop.co.uk/.

If you pay the subscription you can see the video section and Ray shows you how to do it with and without fancy equipment and a heap of other suff as well. Defiantly worth the money.

Steve

I am closer to the northern border & sets tend to come this way. Not many that I know of in your direction unless there is a HRSA member near you that does repairs or, can help, and there are few left of the former.

I would not pay money for alignment that can roughly be done by ear. You need to know what the parts are that need adjusting and where they are. As I have been servicing these things for decades I have the gear.

Normally I use a rough but stable signal generator, calibrated with a frequency counter, and monitored with an oscilloscope. The latter may sound like a luxury, but it is more sensitive, and will spot distortion. On spotting distortion, that same CRO can be used to find the source.

Marc

Great to know it Lives! Stan

Id be very inclined to follow Marc's advice and from what little I know you can do a reasonable job by Ear and radio stations (weak), thought knowing the procedure is I think a bit of a must

Theres a lot of Radio stuff on youtube but please apply grey matter to what some say thought

Again Noob but I shouldn't think you should have too screw the IF's far, its more about getting them peaked in sequence, 2 I believe on each can for 455kHz or weak radio station since you dont have a Sig Gen

I am not sure of your radio circuit so cant comment exactly these vids might help explain it better then me

I cant comment on how correct his procedure is..anything I remember of radio was like 30 years ago
but maybe they will help with the idea of how to go about it

Hope the Video links are ok Brad, if not please remove

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8IaUEhz17o.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZwTrZJZUVM.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFPk2cMB-gQ.

As for noise generally, well our environment is so full of it now that it dont help with AM radios so if you haven't already... try the radio in different places and see what remains constant

Again from what little I know or rather found out, Valves tends to be the lest likely problem with old radios (provided they haven't been damaged by failed circuits I guess)

Caps and out of tolerance resistors are far more likely to be the problem

Sadly I am nowhere near you at all as Id love to help you

To me and again "Noob comment" the only valve id really want to check is the 6X5, but thats me erring on the side of caution.

Hope this helps anyway Stan and be gentle with those IF Cans, there one thing you dont want to damage

if anyone wants to correct this post please feel very free to comment if I got it wrong

The sites about imparting information but the correct information too so I will gracefully accept corrections if I got it wrong

Cheers

PS one other thought too, is when replacing any wiring make sure you run along the original path...it was probably optimal for noise, interference reduction.

Yes, links to any relevant material is fine.

I like that guy his a bit drool in delivery but I think he knows his stuff and tries to explain it, which is needed I think

There heaps of stuff on YT for radio and amps but some I've seen I don't necessarily agree with what they do...

but if links are good fine cause I like links...saves me boring people to death lol

Cheers