Hacker Hunter RP38A : Transistor Radio Repair : Pt. 3. Dial Cord

[@old64goat]

The dial string MASTER! Nice work George.

[@GeorgeChristofi]

Please no Bill.... that was not fun! It originally was almost 2 hours long before editing it down!

[@Steveuk405]

Dial Cord Stringing is one job that was sent to us straight from the pits of hell. Well done for completing it. I have one here that keeps being put off....

[@GeorgeChristofi]

Dial cords are one of those tortures... Eddystone came up with that lovely mechanical system.. ok, its huge, complicated and horrendously expensive to make but it works!

[@allthegearnoidea6752]

I once binned a Radio because I couldn’t restring the dial cord. If I get another one I will send it to you. Great job thanks for sharing regards chris

[@GeorgeChristofi]

I'm going to be Known as Dial Cord Man now aren't I? Must have a costume made....

[@allthegearnoidea6752]

George Christofi A G string perhaps. Now reaching for the eye bleach.

[@GeorgeChristofi]

@@allthegearnoidea6752 don't give me Ideas!

[@dougmcartin3881]

Gotta love the dial cords on the German radios. It seems as if they went out of their way to make them as much of a nightmare as possible to replace. I think it's safe to say that nobody enjoys dial cord work. ATB Doug.

[@GeorgeChristofi]

I hear you there. It could be worse... the gearing from an effystone comes to mind if you just get given a handful of wheels!

[@Brettski777]

I feel your restringing pain George. A very professional YT vid . Nice one mate .

[@GeorgeChristofi]

Restringing will be reserved by the devil for radio restorers as the eternal punishment....

[@docholliday3150]

Fancy that, coming up two inches short. My Kate has been telling me that for years and she knows a thing or two about dial cords. Another good video, very educational and entertaining. dial cords seem to require 3 hands. cheers, Doc.

[@GeorgeChristofi]

Those dial cords ar a three handed job at least... Why my eyes and my brain were saying that I measured it right I have no idea. See you for the next part!

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

Hi George, thanks for a great series on the repair of this Hacker Herald. I have several Hacker radios, so a particular interest to me. I particularly like the way you explain the process which would help restore many radios. Good, basic work practices. Thanks again.

[@GeorgeChristofi]

Most of the hacker range uses very similar design internally so they can pretty much be serviced in the same manner.

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

@@GeorgeChristofi Thanks for the tip!

[@Andrewausfa]

Super video George, we just love re-stringing dial cords, sometimes you need almost military like planning to co-ordinate it.

[@GeorgeChristofi]

Aren't dial cords the best part of old radios? Everyone loves doing them....

[@theoidris3100]

I know it is kind of off topic but do anybody know a good website to watch new series online ?

[@kyngkamryn7743]

@Theo Idris i would suggest Flixportal. You can find it by googling :)

[@theoidris3100]

@Kyng Kamryn thank you, I went there and it seems to work =) I appreciate it!!

[@kyngkamryn7743]

@Theo Idris glad I could help :D

[@tomclarke1848]

Brilliant George. I've got a rp38a project radio arriving soon and this and your other videos are perfect. Thank you so much!

[@GeorgeChristofi]

Glad it helped. If you do need any other info then by all means get in touch.

[@derricktaffman3887]

Hi George. Like your humour on your channel. It is different and makes good watching. Have fun Derrick.

[@GeorgeChristofi]

Glad you liked it Derrick. If everyone was all business it would be boring!

[@umajunkcollector]

Top ten best dial cord fixings, yah yah yah! Coming up next, George restores an 1818 John Broadwood & Son's English built grand piano once owned by Ludwig Beethoven. He meticulously disassembles its case, and refinishes it piece by piece, then restrings it to make it like new. ba ba ba buuuuuuum

[@GeorgeChristofi]

I don't think I have the bench space Don!

[@OfficialTylerWhite]

Very good my friend. Entertaining and I really like your new lighting setup!

[@GeorgeChristofi]

Glad you like it Tyler. Took me a while to use it in the background but got it right in the end.

[@VintageElectronicsGeek]

Really getting good with your FX! Great job on the string...I did my first radio not to long ago...video will follow when I have time to post. ~Jack, VEG

[@GeorgeChristofi]

Trying all sorts of things videowise to step up the game. Looking forward to your radio video. That string was a pain in the butt! Thanks for stopping by Jack.

[@SweeneyTTodd]

Excellent job so far George ' looking forward to the next one Best regards

[@GeorgeChristofi]

Getting there for sure Shaun... Nxt bit might be an alignment or cosmetics...

[@johnmadow5331]

I had Nordmenda Globalstar a German short wave radio that similar to what on this show. It took me a long time to find some tech in the US who willing to work on this radio in the US. All radio club and restoration place in the US even they charged arms and legs at the shop rate will not touch the radio that similar to this one!

[@davidgibson4282]

Great video mate and your jokes always make me laugh. But you know me mate, our sense of humor ain't that different. Very entertaining and the humor helps keep you watching as your waiting for the next joke whilst learning how to fix the radio. Clever stuff.

[@GeorgeChristofi]

I try because it can be a really boring subject... Thanks for stopping by..

[@LarryDeSilva64]

Hmm you cut it short was that called practice George? Then the real right one you did get that on I don't have the manual dexterity George so I doubt I could restring one. And the cabinet turned into a nice little jigsaw puzzle for you too how quaint. Well Hope you don't have snow coming like I do tomorrow. Great video George always a pleasure to see you work.

[@GeorgeChristofi]

I could say it was practice but the reality was that my brain wasn't working! The cabinet as well was a pain to get the front panel off. Normally it is just a matter of undoing 4 nuts but the threads had been damaged so I had to take it right apart to get to the bolt heads. No snow forecast here yet, but who knows... they get it wrong here almost as much as they do for the Old64Goat!

[@LarryDeSilva64]

@@GeorgeChristofi They are predicting 3 to three and a half ft accumulation of snow over the next 3 days not bad really considering over a 12 hr period we got 4 ft of snow last winter. So it could have been much worse.

[@conundrum112]

Hi George, great vids.

[@GeorgeChristofi]

Glad you liked it Harvey.

[@raceingdemon6464]

Great Job George !! Is That Really Yellow String Or Nylon String ? You Make it Look Easy !! Your Video is Very Funny Reminds Me a Bit Of Old Buzz 1151. Keep Up The Good Work Your Doing Super Regards mike.

[@GeorgeChristofi]

It is actually yellow nylon dial cord that I got from a guy in germany a while ago. Trust me... it wasn't easy, it was a lot of back and forth trying to get it all lined up. I know Buzz1151's videos, they are funny and they must take him forever to put together!

[@SoddingaboutSi]

Never enough hands restringing a radio!

[@GeorgeChristofi]

Never... and really, who needs dial cords? swap it for digital!

[@tatchik77]

I'm trying to restring a Zenith Allegro Solid state console radio but am having trouble finding a schematic because the model number sticker has been removed. As near as I can figure its possibly a LR915P but can't find service manual for it...🙁

[@GeorgeChristofi]

Dana, I can't help you with the manual you need but try Bob at Radio Wild kzbin.info/www/bejne/bauqeqB6rc6si9k He does a lot of Zenith stuff and if he hasn't got one he should certainly be able to point you in the right direction. Hope this helps you out!

[@tatchik77]

@@GeorgeChristofi oh my goodness thank you for the quick reply! I will check out the video you suggested, although I have to admit I am a little intimidated by the task. But the stereo has such a great sound I hope i can fix it!

[@GeorgeChristofi]

@@tatchik77 Not a problem. The radio community is a very helpful one all over the world. If ever you need help there are a lot of us around who know the right people or places to look for stuff. Bob is a great guy and he might even have something on his channel specifically related to your unit. If not, drop him an email and ask him... nothing ventured, nothing gained!

[@Theoobovril]

Cut it short, you did make me laugh George..ho-hum..

[@GeorgeChristofi]

Laughing is fun... Better than boring dial cords!

[@geoffquickfall8424]

We did it right because we did it twice! ;-)

[@Codeeze]

Your video prowess never ceases to amaze me... Not only educational, but thoroughly entertaining. Hooked. Looking forward to the next one to see if you have anymore 'Dick' moments...

[@GeorgeChristofi]

I am going to try not to have more of those moments.... But now I have to think of alignment jokes or get my cheeks out.

[@greggsvintageworkshop8974]

OMG George, LMAO! What a GREAT video! You are such a "Dick" as you said, I so love your sense of humor! Seriously though, great work on that dial cord. They can be a real pain in the arse. You make your videos so fun and enjoyable. This one is going to be really nice, as it is coming together very nicely!

[@GeorgeChristofi]

If you don't admit your mistakes then it becomes too much of a know it all thing. We all have Dick moments... all you can say at the end is 'Don't be a Dick!'

[@tatchik77]

By the way this was very helpful even though it isn't the same as mine!

[@GeorgeChristofi]

Glad you liked it and found it somewhat useful. See my previous reply and hope that helps you out. Have a great New Year Dana.

[@derricktaffman3887]

Hi George. You will have to borrow Radiocrunchers Goat. Ha ha

[@GeorgeChristofi]

Yes... The goat needs to do a tour of the benches!

[@thehappylittlefoxakabenji8154]

measure twice cut once

[@GeorgeChristofi]

Yes, I know... but that is why I'm a dick! Why my eyes said that that was an inch longer than it was I really don't know... hey ho... the cord will fit a baby radio!

[@thehappylittlefoxakabenji8154]

@@GeorgeChristofi yep it does happen ! they probably had a jig to make those up originally but your way was the right way to do it as sometimes you dont have the re string diagram to work from or another radio to copy or a broken or missing dial cord on the radio your fixing ! your very skilful with scalpel ! I once just nicked a dial cord with the soldering iron !

[@GeorgeChristofi]

@@thehappylittlefoxakabenji8154 the scalpel is my bladed tool of choice on the bench and I have a choice of pointed or rounded. I had the diagram but no jig. I should still be able to use a ruler!!!

[@thehappylittlefoxakabenji8154]

@@GeorgeChristofi I think the original Jig was just a couple of nails in a piece of wood ! point taken about using a ruler ! its an easy thing to do cut something too short ! I always try to cut things too long ! only to cut it too short getting it to the right length !

[@jeffsmith50001]

George "faffing" lol.

[@GeorgeChristofi]

Faffing... a very broad description....

[@jeffsmith50001]

Dial cords should be a job for prisoners!. "Oh my God you awful man!, Its about rehabilitation not punishment".

[@GeorgeChristofi]

I am practising now for the afterlife. I'm sure I am heading down not up so a little dial cord action now should get me ready for eternal damnation.

[@CluelessMamaD]

Eww brown and sticky lol. Lol no not a complete idiot

[@GeorgeChristofi]

I felt like an idiot.... cutting the cord too short! Never mind Drea... Got there in the end...

[@CluelessMamaD]

I do stuff like that during every crafts lol