11-18-2020, 07:14 PM
Today the EM34 tube I ordered from eBay came. The guy who was selling it was in Belgium and the price was way better than the rest, mere $70 plus shipping which still came about $87 tax included.
Today I heard a loud knock on the door: the international shipping guy was holding in hand a really smashed box. He asked me if I wanted it 'cause it was really dented. I looked at the size of the box, and it was way oversized so I figured it was not likely the tube if packed well would be damaged from this dent. I accepted the box, photographed it, sprayed it with disinfectant and let it sit awhile before opening it. When I opened it I realized the box was very soft - the outside was mere wrapping brown paper so it was not, strictly speaking, a box, and the rest inside was a lot of bubble wrap - not a bad packing for a single tube.
I have just tested it as Hickok described - it involves connecting 1M resistors from the Plate jack to the pins 3 and 6 of Loctal socket which are in parallel to the same pins in the Octal one; the tube exhibited bright key-lime-green glow with both sectors closing when said by the manual.
So, I have a new bright tube. Again the old one seems to work, just not as bright but still kinda acceptable.
I received the idler wheel from Gary Stork yesterday; I installed it and it became much better. There was still some rumbling but I figured it was not coming from the idler and was exacerbated by the turntable being on the bench - once I put felt pads under the points of it touching the table the rumbling became very low. Still I thought there (as described by the SAMS) might be a problem with the bearing balls. I tried to take it out and the balls started falling out. I have not lost any, but one ball felt a bit uneven, though that could've been my fingers with the guitar playing damage. So I ordered 2mm balls of G10 grading (seems like to get better one i have to go to ceramic ones; I think it is fine) and as long as I am at it I will try to replace it. Not a simple task without fully taking apart the bottom of the player which so far was not in the plans. I also need to order the grease - I am not sure Lithium is good for it, plus regular grease holds the balls in place better. They should come tomorrow.
Will see.
Today I heard a loud knock on the door: the international shipping guy was holding in hand a really smashed box. He asked me if I wanted it 'cause it was really dented. I looked at the size of the box, and it was way oversized so I figured it was not likely the tube if packed well would be damaged from this dent. I accepted the box, photographed it, sprayed it with disinfectant and let it sit awhile before opening it. When I opened it I realized the box was very soft - the outside was mere wrapping brown paper so it was not, strictly speaking, a box, and the rest inside was a lot of bubble wrap - not a bad packing for a single tube.
I have just tested it as Hickok described - it involves connecting 1M resistors from the Plate jack to the pins 3 and 6 of Loctal socket which are in parallel to the same pins in the Octal one; the tube exhibited bright key-lime-green glow with both sectors closing when said by the manual.
So, I have a new bright tube. Again the old one seems to work, just not as bright but still kinda acceptable.
I received the idler wheel from Gary Stork yesterday; I installed it and it became much better. There was still some rumbling but I figured it was not coming from the idler and was exacerbated by the turntable being on the bench - once I put felt pads under the points of it touching the table the rumbling became very low. Still I thought there (as described by the SAMS) might be a problem with the bearing balls. I tried to take it out and the balls started falling out. I have not lost any, but one ball felt a bit uneven, though that could've been my fingers with the guitar playing damage. So I ordered 2mm balls of G10 grading (seems like to get better one i have to go to ceramic ones; I think it is fine) and as long as I am at it I will try to replace it. Not a simple task without fully taking apart the bottom of the player which so far was not in the plans. I also need to order the grease - I am not sure Lithium is good for it, plus regular grease holds the balls in place better. They should come tomorrow.
Will see.
People who do not drink, do not smoke, do not eat red meat will one day feel really stupid lying there and dying from nothing.
