Recapped the Admiral! - Still having issues...

[RitchieMars]

A quick update:

Before I went to bed, I got brave enough to test some voltages with my new Cen-Tech multimeter. Here's what I got:

6X5 Rectifier, Pin 8 ( schematic = 340v ) 364v on SW and Phono, 374v on KC
6K6 Output, Pin 3 ( schematic = 245v ) 295v on SW and Phono, 309v on KC
6K6 Output, Pin 8 ( schematic =19v ) 23v on SW and Phono, 25v on KC

I take it these are higher due to the higher line voltage we have nowadays. It was listed as 117v on this schematic.

I did this after cleaning all the pin sockets and I found that I do indeed get a little scratchy sound if I touch something to Pin 6 of the 7A7. I still got the static about 2 minutes after I turned it on, then it got worse, then it faded, then it came back!

Oh, and holding the probe anywhere near the 1st Audio 6SQ7's Pin 2 causes a buzz that gets louder if you get closer to it. Just found that interesting. I should be able to attempt an alignment soon, providing this static will keep to a minimum.

[leadlike]

Use your multimeter to test what voltage is coming out of your outlets (set to AC voltage! Don't want to trash that new meter too quickly....) if you are getting something like 125-130vAC that could be enough to bump those voltages up a little, especially around the rectifier. I am listening to a '35 Atwater Kent right now, and when I did a cursory check of the voltages, B+ was a bit higher because of the higher line voltages, compared to what this thing was designed for in '35 (115vAC).

Which meter did you get? The $3 cheapie or the $17 "supreme" model? Don't forget, NEVER try to test resistances while the radio is under power-it probably won't kill you, but it sure will destroy your meter. Don't ask how I know this!

[RitchieMars]

I bought the same model you told me about, the Cen-Tech P37772 with about 30 functions on it, I believe.

I took these measurements just now with the Admiral turned off but plugged in.

24.5v AC from the Admiral's chassis to ground ( ? )
1.5v AC on terminal that corresponds to my plug's small end where my line filter cap is installed ( see the photo above )
119v AC on the other terminal, which corresponds to my plug's larger end

Edit: I checked some other voltages later with the set turned off, and the primary winding of my transformer is putting out exactly 120v. But, I checked my heater pins and they're showing 7.9v AC. Isn't this a bit high for the heater voltage? Is that what's driving my B+ through the roof?

[RitchieMars]

Well, so much for my attempt at aligning the Admiral. I get my Zenith apart and get everything ready, and the Zenith's AM goes dead. I put it back where I had it, hooked up the external antenna and still nothing. Now my Zenith is just static and a few pop's and crackles just like my Admiral. I was picking up stations pretty decent on AM just earlier tonight.

Even after I replaced the wax capacitors, I'm pretty sure everything else in my Zenith is about done. It has worked well the few times I've used it of lately, but it's started to have some crackles and pops for a minute or two which would clear up after a few minutes. I tested a couple of resistors just awhile ago and found a few that were a pretty good bit off. There's a bunch of bubbly ceramic capacitors and a big "black beauty" cap, one of those marked with colored bands. It also has one of those weird selenium rectifiers. Things are a bit difficult for me to reach in that tiny little radio, so I don't particularly look forward to working on it again. My Admiral is very roomy and much cleaner in comparison.

Well, there's still the K731. I haven't checked to see how it picked up AM...