Re: Packard Radios

Posted by Richter12x2 On 2015/3/21 22:59:27

Quote:

I'd bet recapping the thing would fix it - there a few guys around DFW that will do it, but it'll probably run you starting at $100 or so.

If you can operate a soldering iron, and would be comfortable replacing an ignition switch in an early car, or a radio in a late model car, you can probably do it yourself with no problem, and if you've already replaced the tubes, the caps will probably run you less than $10.

The schematic you have should tell you the values of the capacitors. The ones you're interested in are likely big (about the size of a glass buss fuse, or bigger) and covered with wax (they dry out over time), and the key is just to go slow, cut and solder one leg at a time, and make sure you're replacing them with the correct ones.

You SHOULD replace the electrolytics, too - that can be a little more complicated because sometimes they're in a big can on top that looks like a metal vacuum tube. They also have polarity, meaning you have to get positive to positive and negative to negative or it doesn't work. The theory is still easy - you clip out the wires going to the 'can' and just replace them with new electrolytics in the chassis where they're hidden, leaving the can up there on top for looks. The only challenge there is getting comfortable enough reading the schematic to figure out which leg of the can goes to which value of electrolytic - not super difficult, but can be a challenge if you're not used to schematics.

If it were me (minus having done it before), I'd take a look at the capacitors that are in there and figure out if I'd be comfortable cutting them out one at a time and soldering new ones in - if so, I'd do all the paper caps first (they're almost surely shot.) Then (carefully, that's live voltage, and amplified!) plug it in and see how it does. It may be good enough that you can just leave the electrolytics alone. If it's not, getting the guy to replace 3 or 4 electrolytic caps for you would have to be about half the price of a total recap job.

It's all point to point solder, not a circuit board, so you just bend the legs into little hooks, then add a dab of solder so they don't let go. Make sure they don't touch anything they're not supposed to, do one at a time, and it's hard to mess up. Like soldering in a new turn signal socket.

Also, I'd offer to take a look at it for you, but with my two year old running around, I don't even have the time to work on my own projects, without taking anyone else's on. :D I'll be happy to answer any questions for you, though, if you decide to take a shot at it yourself.

edit:
Oh, and if you decide to take it somewhere, see if you feel comfortable enough removing the chassis from the case. If you look in behind the dial where the volume and tuning knobs are, you'll probably figure out the radio itself is in a metal case about the size of a shoebox, with plugs to connect the record player, speaker and probably antenna as well (some of those are built into the case though). It'll be a heck of a lot easier to transport without having to move the furniture piece, which already looks in good condition. :)

edit: Here are some awesome sites to explain what I mean - the same ideas apply to the radios in the Packards as well - at least in my '53, the radio is totally standalone, just like the chassis in the big console radios - as long as you have 6v power instead of wall power, then you can run it on your desktop, and it'll recap and retube just the same.http://www.antiqueradio.org/recap.htmhttp://www.justradios.com/captips.html