Roadside p/u Motorola SK80CW (Help needed)

[SSGNDoc]

Got the last capacitor soldered in, under the power amp chassis. Things at least power up. Will have to dig into the radio side next. Then my daughter has catching up to do,on getting the record changer rebuild done.

[SSGNDoc]

With the record changer and radio not working, I decided to plug in a Bluetooth receiver to the tape input. There is still some stuff to address for sure. I know there are still some electrolytic capacitors in the receiver side. As well as at the midrange and tweeter speakers. But…I was able to hear music, with some crackle. The left channel works and kind of clears up once volume is up, to ‘8’ on the volume dial. The right stays pretty quiet even when using the balance knob. But pull the balance knob up, to the “Mono” setting and the left goes quiet and the Right comes in clear.

I’m sure new capacitors and some connector cleaner in the pots will help. Then, we’ll see where that gets us.

[electra225]

It looks to me like you might have some red-plating 6V6's on the chassis, on top, in your picture. Are the voltages in that stage correct? That might explain part of your performance issues. You don't want to run it long if you do have red plating. You can take out the output transformer(s)....

[William]

The "left, center, right" balance verifier buttons are notorious for weak or dead channels so be sure to thoroughly clean them and probably more than once.

Bill

[SSGNDoc]

It looks to me like you might have some red-plating 6V6's on the chassis, on top, in your picture. Are the voltages in that stage correct? That might explain part of your performance issues. You don't want to run it long if you do have red plating. You can take out the output transformer(s)....

Not plating. That is just the color the tubes looked on camera when warmed up. They weren’t that bright or that red with normal eyesight.

[SSGNDoc]

The "left, center, right" balance verifier buttons are notorious for weak or dead channels so be sure to thoroughly clean them and probably more than once.

Bill

Good to know.

[SSGNDoc]

Took the radio out. Replaced the electrolytic cap in it. Cleaned up the pots and switches. Replaced light bulbs. All speaker channels work now.

Still need to do some antenna wire repair to the connector on one of the AM wires (it was snapped off at the connection to the cabinet/antenna coil. Waiting on replacement cord to fix the tuning dial and indicators. My daughter has not yet dug into the record changer. But I’m hoping to have all the rest of it done so that it is all ready to go once she gets that done.

For now testing gets done with a Bluetooth receiver hooked up to the tape input. It does sound pretty nice with some classic jazz put through it, or even a little Joe Walsh.

[TC Chris]

Waiting on replacement cord to fix the tuning dial and indicators.

One workaround for dial cord is braided fishing line, available at places selling fishing gear in various diameters. Seems to me that some kinds have Tefon on them, which you probably do not want (friction issues), but others do not. I recently redid the dial cord during my Heath console receiver restoration. The old cord was fine until I bumped it with the soldering iron tip.... Then it was the usual $#@***%!!! while trying to get the length just right, and keeping the cord on all the sheaves.

Chris Campbell