Quote:
Originally Posted by Gregb
I would still consider changing them before you have an issue. A fellow collector friend of mine had an AM/FM radio that had what he considered a good electrolytic and it went from working just fine to smoking the power transformer in just a few minutes. He told me it was playing just fine with no hum and he went to get a coffee and was gone just a few minutes. Upon his return there was no sound at all and smoke was pouring out of the radio.
If you don't change those caps don't ever walk away from it when its powered up. Its amazing how fast they go south when they fail and even being there you may not be able to prevent damage when it does fail.
Gregb
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Did he ever test that cap for leakage at rated voltage? Hum is often from the cap going open rather than leaky. If it is still filtering ripple, but leaking and taxing the supply it may be hard to notice the problem until other stuff fails. I'd recommend adding a B+ fuse between the rectifier and first cap if you keep the originals to reduce chances of blowing a rect. tube or worse.