My new toy...

[leadlike]

Jeff, the foamed cap is due to the fact that the filter caps are tall cans of borax and water (if if remember correctly). They are vented at the top and when the filter caps fail and their resistance increases, they overheat and boil over. I've seen it before and it's usually not a big deal. Kinda handy in a way, as it makes for a very obvious failed part. This chassis is in very rough shape, so we'll see what a recap does.

[Phil Nelson]

Originally Posted by leadlike

tall cans of borax and water

Yes, so-called "wet electrolytics" contained a weak solution of boric acid, as I have been told. Later manufacturers replaced the liquid with a paste because -- duh.

Wet electrolytics can also leak through the rubbery bottom seal. If you look under an electrolytic and see a dried crust, that's what remains of the former electrolyte.

I would never power up a radio with this kind of cap without first replacing the electrolytics. How much do you value your power transformer?

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

[leadlike]

Just recapped the set, and it ran with a horrible hum until I found a cap was going to ground rather than the voltage divider. I did a restuff on the caps for what it's worth. Sadly, this chassis was a rusted hulk-I had to remove the tuning capacitor and give it a solvent bath to get it going. Sanding away at the chassis revealed rusted pitting that went almost the whole way through the metal, so I smoothed it out as best I could and applied aluminum paint to the set. I cringed to do it, but I did. Previous owner put their foot through the speaker, but it glued together perfectly. Sounds good, but it needs a massive antenna to work! I've never had a set where that made such a difference!

Now I'm onto the cabinet: VERY solid! Best work I have ever seen in a console! The only cost cutting I see is that they used scrap trim to form braces on the insides. The cabinet is done up in liquor-proof lacquer which may have been new for that year; older ones being done up in shellac. I've always had to strip cabinets to the bare wood and do my own lacquer spraying. Anyone have any tips on rehabbing an existing finish with spray lacquer?