Found a Zenith....

[Kingfisher]

...now how to get the chassis out without breaking it. It's a '66 model N724 I picked up for $5. Anybody got any suggestions? It's the dial assembly that's preventing me from sliding the chassis out...

[DavGoodlin]

I had one of those and the dial has a round shaft gripper with a tension ring.
If you pull on the tuning wheel from the back, it will pop off.

When you put it back together, make sure you tune it to a station of known frequency, in the middle of the band, then align the dial/pointer before pushing it back together.

Looks in fine condition and I bet the tubes are all OK. One of the last tube radios?

Edit: This radio, like many from the mid-60's had tension rings with a set of ears that prevented knobs from being pulled off completely, exposing a metal shaft that was possibly energized with line voltage.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by DavGoodlin

I had one of those and the dial has a round shaft gripper with a tension ring.
If you pull on the tuning wheel from the back, it will pop off.

When you put it back together, make sure you tune it to a station of known frequency, in the middle of the band, then align the dial/pointer before pushing it back together.

Looks in fine condition and I bet the tubes are all OK. One of the last tube radios?

I have the clock version of the set. When I first got it, the FM was dead.
The 12DT8 was dead, as the radio was probably only used on AM. It appears the radio was repaired once, sometime in the late 70's. The 35C5 was replaced and they did use a Zenith branded replacement.

[radiotvnut]

Those were good little radios that rarely gave trouble. Zenith still made a version of this set through '69 (Z-line); but, '69 was the end of the line for Zenith tube radios. I have a similar '69 clock version of this set with a busted output tube socket (likely a result of a cheap socket combined with high hours).

[Kamakiri]

Many of those mid to late '60s models that were on the cheaper end, you just can't fix. I remember running into an Airline or Sylvania or something where the circuit board was glued in to the radio, and the filter can was mounted to the board in such a way that after many years of heat, the whole darn thing just crumbled.

[Kingfisher]

Originally Posted by radiotvnut

Those were good little radios that rarely gave trouble. Zenith still made a version of this set through '69 (Z-line); but, '69 was the end of the line for Zenith tube radios. I have a similar '69 clock version of this set with a busted output tube socket (likely a result of a cheap socket combined with high hours).

Wow, I thought Zenith's last tube models were in '67. Good to know they made them for another two years. I didn't see a selenium rectifier in this model, just a silicon diode. Did Zenith stop using them?

[Kingfisher]

Originally Posted by Kamakiri

Many of those mid to late '60s models that were on the cheaper end, you just can't fix. I remember running into an Airline or Sylvania or something where the circuit board was glued in to the radio, and the filter can was mounted to the board in such a way that after many years of heat, the whole darn thing just crumbled.

It is a Zenith afterall, I'm not expecting pc board trouble. Arvin and GE also used PC boards in their mid to late '60's radios unfortunately.

[Kingfisher]

Originally Posted by DavGoodlin

I had one of those and the dial has a round shaft gripper with a tension ring.
If you pull on the tuning wheel from the back, it will pop off.

When you put it back together, make sure you tune it to a station of known frequency, in the middle of the band, then align the dial/pointer before pushing it back together.

Looks in fine condition and I bet the tubes are all OK. One of the last tube radios?

Edit: This radio, like many from the mid-60's had tension rings with a set of ears that prevented knobs from being pulled off completely, exposing a metal shaft that was possibly energized with line voltage.

When I wiggle the chassis, I can see the FM/AM dial moving inside the plastic housing. Haven't had time lately because of work, but I plan to try again on Fri. to get it apart. I did manage to test the tubes...all test good. All original "Zenith" tubes, including the German-made 12DT8 dated 02-66. I wonder who made it?(no diamond on bottom-not Telefunken)

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by Kingfisher

When I wiggle the chassis, I can see the FM/AM dial moving inside the plastic housing. Haven't had time lately because of work, but I plan to try again on Fri. to get it apart. I did manage to test the tubes...all test good. All original "Zenith" tubes, including the German-made 12DT8 dated 02-66. I wonder who made it?(no diamond on bottom-not Telefunken)

It should be stamped S&H. Siemens and Halske.

[Kingfisher]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

It should be stamped S&H. Siemens and Halske.

Cool! I was gonna add "what does S&H mean on the tube" in my last post. You answered my question before I asked--thank you deisel...you mind reader, you.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by Kingfisher

Cool! I was gonna add "what does S&H mean on the tube" in my last post. You answered my question before I asked--thank you deisel...you mind reader, you.

I didn't know it until I read in Tube Lore.
I'll have to order some 12DT8's. I'm out!

[Kingfisher]

Surprise, Surprise, It's already broken! Apparently, somebody had already tried to remove the chassis and damaged the case. What I thought was a loose screw rattling inside was bits of plastic. The am/fm dial popped off just like DavGoodlin said...easy. I may be able to salvage this case with some superglue since one of the plastic screw bushings is a clean break from the rest of the case. Should I replace any of the ceramic caps or just the tubulars and the electrolytic can?