Philco 38-7 tuning mechanism

[comradesvox]

Hi. I am restoring a Philco 38-7 console radio. I have replaced the caps/resistors already. I am stuck on the cone-centric tuning mechanism. I cannot seem to engage the intermediate position so the inner tuning ring does nothing. I can only make this work in thte in or out position. I do remember trying to loosen the tuning knob so I could remove the chassis from the case - should not have done that. I hope I didn't break anything.

Also, is there any way you recommend cleaning the air capacitor plates without removing it?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[comradesvox]

I noticed something else strange with this tuning mechanism. Sometimes when I touch the metal top of the tuning knob I get a loud pop. It may have something to do with it being in between the intermediate and out position? FYI I do not have a grounding wire attached to the back terminal. From what I have read if you are just using a straight wire antenna you hook that to the red terminal and then connect the black and ground terminals together. Don't know if it is related to the popping problem but thought I would mention it.

[bandersen]

You've probably already seen this website, but in case you haven't: http://www.philcorepairbench.com/conecentric/index.htm

I have a 38-7CS but I'm afraid I haven't gotten around to restoring the chassis yet.

[comradesvox]

bandersen,
Hi. Sorry for the delay. I guess I am not getting email notifications...
Anyway yes I have seen that site. I guess I am not going to get this 100 percent at this rate - I can only do so much with the equipment I have. I don't have a tube tester for instance. This radio had belonged to my grandparents and I ended up with it. It will most likely be sold but if I can't work out the remaining bugs I'll make it clear that it is a project radio for restoration.
I replaced all resistors, all caps except for the micas, put in a new power cord and a fuse. I was going to make a back out of pegboard but never got around to it. I also had to heat shrink some crumbling wires. I am still a little shaky about the field coil wires. I put on some heavy duty heat shrink but now the wires are quite rigid where they join the 3-pin connector and there is a little bit of original wire bending at that point ... Will probably just dope up those spots of the wires with liquid electrical tape. The tuning air cap looks dirty too, as well as the tuning contact ring. I would only tune in the strongest local station but I don't know how sensitive the tuner is. I live in rural Northern NJ so the NYC stations I guess are not strong enough up here. I got nothing on short wave but I don't know what stations are still around. I may have more luck at night? I am just using a straight wire antenna as I am not certain what sort of di-pole I should use ... would a TV rabbit ear antenna work?
Thanks for any advice. I had previously only restored some table models from the 50s so these very old console models are new territory for me. On deck I have an even older Sparton 667 that needs a complete rebuild but I don't have a lot of time and may just sell it as is to a collector/restorer.