Welcome Guest! Be sure you know and follow the Phorum Rules before posting. Thank you and Enjoy! (January 12, 2025) x

Thread Closed

Model 66b Warm-up drift
#1

Replaced all electrolytic & paper caps along with 6 resistors. Did not replace the bakelite caps. I've noticed that it takes about 15 minutes for the radio to warm up and stop frequency drift. Is this normal for a 1935 radio or could it be attributed to another item, such as bakelite caps? Bob. Icon_confused
#2

All old sets drift a little bit. I think you probably still have one or more carbon resistors that is high in value, and it gets worse with a little heat. At a nickel or so apiece, why haven't you replaced them all? Wirewounds are either good or bad or shorted to the chassis. It's a crapshoot with mica capacitors, usually you get crackling or loss of signal, but drifting could also occur. Of course there are more bizzare things that could be going on too.

Let's see who else has some tips.
#3

Hi Bob,

Well, it wouldn't be unusual to note some drift in the first 15 minutes but the question is how much is too much. In relative terms you should be able to turn it on to an AM station and maybe have to touch it up slightly once after warmup. Shortwave would be different.

I can't think think of a scenario where any of the Bakelite caps would cause this unless they were really leaky and pulling down the voltage - and that's not out of the realm of possibility. I'd rebuild them on general principle because there's so many other potential problems that could develop.

If you have another 6A7 handy you might try it. I've caught excessive drift in many radios due to some problem with the LO/Converter tube.

Just my 2 cents.

-Bill
#4

Thanks for the replies. Besides not replacing any of the bakelite caps, I also did not replace any of the dog-bone resistors. Looks like I have some more work to do. Bob




Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)
[-]
Recent Posts
54C Complete Teardown/Rebuild
Hello Roy, here is this one sincerely Richardradiorich — 12:45 AM
54C Complete Teardown/Rebuild
Richard, Had grabbed it already but thank you just the same.  I find myself wanting to find some way to block out the...glyphmon — 12:03 AM
54C Complete Teardown/Rebuild
Hello roy, here is a link to the schematic . Sincerely Richardradiorich — 11:54 PM
54C Complete Teardown/Rebuild
Richard, The Silvertone 2014 also is a transformerless set, so I am incorporating a 1:1 600 ohm audio isolation transfo...glyphmon — 11:37 PM
Preliminary work on wife's Silvertone 2014
Did an alignment today which was interesting.  IF alignment went great, almost all was already spot-on.  Adjusting on th...glyphmon — 11:35 PM
54C Complete Teardown/Rebuild
The main problem with adding a Bluetooth input is that this set lacks a traditional power transformer to isolate it from...radiorich — 11:19 PM
54C Cabinet Refinish
I started stripping this cabinet before it got super chilly out because I knew I wasn't going to be able to work on ...glyphmon — 11:18 PM
54C Complete Teardown/Rebuild
While I'm waiting to wrap up the final steps on my wife's Silvertone 2014, I started disassembly on the next project.  O...glyphmon — 11:07 PM
Preliminary work on wife's Silvertone 2014
Hello roy, that great news glad it worked out for you !! Sincerely Richardradiorich — 10:50 PM
Preliminary work on wife's Silvertone 2014
Safety caps arrived today.  Soldered one in and had a successful first power-up.  No magic smoke escaped and it tunes in...glyphmon — 09:53 PM

[-]
Who's Online
There are currently no members online.

>