Yet Another Transoceanic

[Winky Dink]

Why did I get this G500? Well, a lot of folks seem enthralled with Zenith Transoceanics. I've had a good 1L6, 1U4, and 3V4 on the shelf for a few years, so I got the radio to fit the tubes.


https://flic.kr/p/2hFfPW3

I used the excellent restoration guides available online, Riders, and a Sams folder. To assist other learner-restorers, I posted photo guidance to the areas I found challenging:

Wave Magnet antenna repair


https://flic.kr/p/2hFd8o5


https://flic.kr/p/2hFd7Y7

Pull the chassis without removing the antenna


https://flic.kr/p/2hFgRtR

Four-section electrolytic cap


https://flic.kr/p/2hFd7E1

Replacement of selenium rectifier and electrolytic caps

[img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49014107823_068a463339_q.jpg[/url]
https://flic.kr/p/2hFd7Cx [img]


https://flic.kr/p/2hFd7zr

The preceding was all educational...well, maybe to show off, too.
This is the completed electronic restoration:


https://flic.kr/p/2hFfPb5

Without any alignment, the AM reception is excellent. This is a 20-second clip:


https://flic.kr/p/2hFgQUQ

The shortwave is problematic. I can find broadcasts with a strong enough signal, but the accompanying noise is excessive. The 19-meter band is where I'm most likely to find a broadcast signal, but it also has the loudest noise. The shortwave alignment instructions are daunting, but is that what's necessary for shortwave reception?

The whole Flickr album is only 18 photos:
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmJakiAK

Thanks,
Henry

[DavGoodlin]

Great subject. I have two and a thought I had was if you were on battery ( use several make one with multiple cells) and not plugged into the line, especially away from radiated RFI, the bands would seem to need a set of trimmers for both oscillator and antenna adjustment

[Winky Dink]

Thanks, Dave. I was thinking about just taking outside with an extension cord to escape some of the noxious radiation. And next time I go to Costco I'll get the batteries I need. In the meantime, I had to fabricate a tool to align the IF transformers, and it'll take me a few days to do a complete alignment.

[Sandy G]

PUH-LEEZE Be Careful when foolin' around w/the Innards of a T/O... They are EASILY Bollixed up & dreadfully hard to Un-Bollix...Just trust a Dumb Ol' Hillbilly on this...

[Winky Dink]

I appreciate that advice. If anything isn't working as I expect, I'll certainly back off.

[Electronic M]

Couple of thoughts:
Back in the 90s ARC had an article on how to build a switch mode supply for these that would make the 90V off of the filament D cells.

Parts chassis for these are out there, and I have one if someone needs something.

[Winky Dink]

I did the broadcast band alignment, repeating the process several times in whole or in part, and I have a very good result. Then I aligned the five shortwave bands with limited success, but I haven't listened yet during the more favorable times.

Two problems cropped up during the process.

First, two antenna coil slugs were frozen. I sprayed in some old-fashioned oily tuner cleaner (Radio Shack), waited a couple of hours, and tried again with a good-fitting jeweler's screw driver. They moved.

Second, one oscillator coil was problematic. I could find a spot with good signal, but if I tried to adjust it, even the lightest touch in either direction turned off the tone completely. I'm wondering if the slug is actually broken, but I'm not going to remove it without a replacement part,.

Question: "Rock the tuning gang" is advised for aligning the antenna and detector coils. From what I've read, my understanding is that after setting the oscillator coil, I look for a second signal peak with slight movement of the tuner, then do the adjustments in the new position. Then, I leave the oscillator slug in its previously set position?

Looking forward to battery operation, I made a battery connector to fit the chassis socket. It turned out good.


https://flic.kr/p/2hJx7w7

I made it out of junk. Still haven't spent a penny on the restoration. (That's not actually true because I'll eventually replenish my supply of resistors and caps.)



https://flic.kr/p/2hJuvyY

I was also annoyed by having to split the line cord to get it into the chassis. It was unsightly. Where the two holes are, I made one hole in the brown insulator, slightly smaller than the metal opening, and put in a half-inch snap bushing. Its outside diameter fit perfectly within the metal opening. Then I stuffed in a too-large grommet which holds the AC cord securely.


https://flic.kr/p/2hKsN2U

I'd really appreciate your advice on tuner rocking.

Thanks,
Henry