Admiral 16R12 restoration
 

Oh yes, it's another Admiral restoration project. This time it's not one of my sets though.
A friend dropped off a couple sets over the summer and asked that I restore them. They both use the 21B1 chassis.
I swear once these are done I'm definitely going to work on some other brands for a while :yes:

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6012/5...4a94ff83_z.jpg

First up is the 12R16 tabletop.
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6006/5...d2115f68_z.jpg http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6024/5...f3bef887_z.jpg http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6125/5...2eca7ac9_z.jpg

It's filled with W. German resistors.
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6012/5...9e6e0d37_z.jpg

The Silverama 17BP4B tests like new and all the transformers, yoke and flyback test good :)
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6099/6...93d03c9f_z.jpg

I found a 14 Amp fuse in the HV cage - it should be 1/4 Amp :nono:
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6212/6...242ae91c_z.jpg

The first challenge was finding the correct schematic. At first I was using the scanned Riders vol 6 available from the ETF.

I quickly found differences though. For example there are 3 couplates in this set but none are shown in Riders.
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6104/6...8822a7fc_z.jpg

Also, these power resistors differ from Riders and I found a germanium diode detector while Riders shows a 6AL5.
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6060/6...847f0bbc_z.jpg

I did some research and it seems they made at least 22 production runs of this set :sigh:
I discovered a faint 'RUN 14' stamped on the back and tracked it down in a Wallace Telaide.

Here's an explanation of those power resistors.
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6226/6...67015034_z.jpg

I restuffed the electrolytics and replaced most of the old caps and out of spec resistors.
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6057/6...33bcfffe_z.jpg http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6229/6...78d1f4b1_z.jpg

The first power up treated me to some nice audio for about 5 seconds then silence and no raster or HV.

I just started checking the tubes and found a 12AV7 in the 12AU7 socket. Also this "TEL-A-SAVE" 6AC7 video output tube has a cathode short and shows no emission on my Hickok.
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6042/6...961bb05c_z.jpg

I found about 5 more bad tubes including the 6AV6 audio preamp. Replacing that solved the fading sound problem. Still no picture though but I do have about 14 KV.

Then I finally noticed that the single pole ion trap magnet is missing :withstpd:

I scrounged one from another set and was treated to this mess :( That's with the brightness cranked all the way up.
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6050/6...0df301a3_z.jpg http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6110/6...1e43d328_z.jpg

I tried a different ion trap magnet. Bingo :D Maybe the first one I tried is weak ?
A little twiddling of the Hor. Lock coil on the back finally got me a stable picture :banana:
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6050/6...cc5b898b_z.jpg http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6227/6...44afce2b_z.jpg

Just in time to catch the Outer Limits :)
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6046/6...47a42a67_z.jpg http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6119/6...0d5093a9_z.jpg

Very bright picture!
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6234/6...f76dc7d2_z.jpg

There are some faint vertical lines on the left side. The set came with a 6AX4 installed in the 6W4 socket so maybe that's the cause. Or maybe the horizontal yoke cap. I'll try adjusting the Hor. Drive too.

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6224/6...5d209a44_z.jpg

I'm glad I can sleep in late today :drool:

Bandersen wrote: I swear once these are done I'm definitely going to work on some other brands for a while.

No you're not. :no: You're the Admiral go-to guy! :yes: Look at how nice a picture almost right away.

This Admiral is going to come up really nice by the looks of things so far :yes:
And such a nice picture too. Is that a young Martin Sheen in one of those image shots?

Thanks! I kinda wish it was my set. That 17BP4B tests better than any CRT I've come across.

Yes, that is indeed Martin Sheen :)

LOL We'll see :scratch2: I think I'll let you guys decide which set I work on next.

Congratulation Mr. Admiral LOL :D

That was the ORIGINAL "Outer Limits"-Can't remember the episode, ut the Oriental guy was James Shigeta.

What are those pink components? I have also on my Westy, but I can not understand what they are ...

Sand coated Wirewound resistors, (I don't know if it's really Sand but that's what they are commonly called) very often bad because the leads corrode and lose contact inside.

I replaced them right away with some modern power resistors.

The terminals of that resistor in my sets are oxidized but still efficient, but I think I will put it in the list of things to replace..thank you for the info :)

I've been using Vishay / Dale silicone coated power resistors lately like these: http://www.mouser.com/MobileCatalog.aspx?page=726