Radio dial moves, but AM station does not change

[init4fun]

Originally Posted by old_coot88

Did you try subbing the 12BE6? That's the AM mixer/oscillator tube. If it's bad, you'd still have FM (the 17C9 is the dedicated FM tube).

Hi old_coot88,

When I first read the OP's post I thought the same thing, but when he said it "stays on the same station" I took that to mean is is playing the one AM station it's "stuck" on, instead of the AM being totally dead as it would be with a bad 12BE6. Hopefully the OP will come along and clarify whether it is totally dead on AM or not

[old_coot88]

One station coming in across the whole AM band indicates the local oscillator (in the 12BE6) isn't running. It could also happen from a bad osc. coil (like an open winding).

[init4fun]

Originally Posted by old_coot88

One station coming in across the whole AM band indicates the local oscillator (in the 12BE6) isn't running. It could also happen from a bad osc. coil (like an open winding).

A very good point indeed, I was thinking more of the tube being dead instead of just the OSC not running. Well, the op now has a few good things to check, if he's still following the thread

[Electronic M]

I've never seen a set with a dead osc tube receive anything....I suppose it's possible if you live within a mile of a high power transmitter that a powerful enough harmonic close enough to the IF frequency could make it through the front end.

[old_coot88]

I've actually seen it a couple of times back in the day, with two stations coming in on top of each other across the whole dial. Attributed it to their heterodyne being close to the set's IF. And the osc. was dead. This was in Phoenix where there was several local stations.

[zeno]

But for now easy first. Look inside & see whats happening !
It sounds mechanical. If the dial cord is bad you can restring it BUT
it takes a certain knack which I dont have ! Most shops had one tech
with the knack that got stuck doing them all. If you order it get an
assortment cause you have to use the right size.
A manual may be a challenge. We can help with that. DONT loose
any little tags inside that may fall off !!

73 Zeno
LFOD !