How to repair vacuum tube Chassis (1939 ZENITH Console Radio) Part 3

Radio repair and restoration Model 5808 with 8-S-463 Chassis. Antique Wooden radios are the most beautiful radios in my opinion. Their style are so unique and interesting, still you can find them very reasonable prices.
Modern radios trends come and go. In contrast, antiques radios are always in style. They hold a special place in history that no modern piece can compete with. They always have been and always be in high demand. We will discuss how to repair Vintage Zenith console tube radio.

[@LovesRadio]

JZ, I have learned so much form you. You explain things so clear and effective that the new person without electronic background can understand and not get overwhelmed. I watched other KZbin channels and was so confused since their presentation is focused on individual with electronic background. Thank you so much for taking your valuable time making these videos.

[@RadioFixer]

I am happy and glad that you enjoy watching and learning. Thank you very much! I really appreciate your time taking time to send me such an uplifting comment. I am doing this as a hobby with no electronic background, trying my best to create detailed videos to encourage others without electronic background that are new to this hobby so they can understand and not get overwhelmed. So happy to know that is working for you. Have a good day! Regards, JZ

[@ericb.7974]

Outstanding job Jay! Thanks for posting

[@RadioFixer]

Hi Eric, so good hearing from you and thank you for taking time to message me with such an uplifting comment. Don't tell Rachael about this radio, it supposed to be a surprise gift. She has no idea that I am working on it. Have a great day!

[@myradiovideos]

I always continue to LEARN stuff from your videos, even after 45 years in electronics... Next to the Radio-Television switch on the back are 2 round pin terminals. That allows for the audio input from a TV set. When I install a new part, I follow your technique but add one step. I use a small polishing tip on my Dremel drill and hit each of the small wire left from the capacitor. That sort of polishes the wire so the solder makes a good contact. The Flux does help with this in most cases, but sometimes , depending on the brand of capacitors, the wire becomes a bit corroded and the solder might not adhere very well.. Hope we can see Part 3 VERY SOON!!! 🙂 Thanks Robert WA6PHN

[@RadioFixer]

Hi Rober, Happy good New Year! I am so happy to hear that you are enjoying watching my video. I feel speechless for such a great compliment. You have a great idea polishing it with Dremel. Need to finish this radio so can focus on my car restoration. The darn Schematic on tuning eye this radio is challenging since is not as clear, but is coming along. Wish was closer to California so I could bring some of my radio and we could fix it and I could learn from you more about Ham radios. Wishing you a year of prosperity and health. Regards, Jay

[@cdjj5404]

It’s coming along nicely. Sorry I got behind on watching this. I’ll be watching part 3 now🤗

[@RadioFixer]

Hi Sis, you do not need to worry about that. But glad that you like watching the crazy stuff that I do in my old age.. LOL Have a great weekend.

[@cdjj5404]

@@RadioFixer 🤗🤗🤗

[@TJET737]

Nice going Jay, good coverage on your techniques. One thing about those Zenith's, they give you plenty of room to work with. The rubber wiring is one of the quirky setbacks of some manufacturers of that era. Philco is notorious for using rubber insulated wire back then. Making good progress, keep it going!....Tony

[@RadioFixer]

Tony, Happy good New Year and so good hearing from you. Wishing you a great, health, and prosperous year. Schematic on this radio is challenging since is not as clear as others but is coming along. Trying to finish it and start working on my car restoration. That should be more fun.. LOL. Thank you for being in touch Tony. Regards, Jay

[@AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Hey Jay, nice work and commentary as your making repairs. Zenith did make some great radio.

[@RadioFixer]

Happy good New Year Rick! So good hearing from you, thank you for taking time to message me. You made my day! Wishing you a great, health, and prosperous year. Still trying to get better how to read schematic, this one is challenging since is not as clear as others but repair is coming along. LOL. Thank you for being in touch Rick. Regards, Jay

[@LarryDeSilva64]

Zenith was always a great radio brand quality was un matched by other radio manufacturers of the day. Nice copper coating underneath the chassis to. We didn't get rain yesterday we got snow about a foot of the white stuff no snow all last year. That definitely looks like a candidate for a restoration Jay. I have RCA receiving tube manuals and for Transmitting tubes and one for semiconductors always good to have. Thanks for the video.

[@RadioFixer]

Happy good New Year Larry! So good hearing from you, thank you for taking time to message me. Wishing you a great, health, and prosperous year. OMG, you guys have snow? I have not seen snow for a long long time, missing it but not sure if I can handle the cold since got used to warmer weather living in Florida the last almost 40 years. Those tube manuals are great, glad that you have them. Trying to finish this radio and start working on my car restoration. That should be more fun.. LOL. Thank you for being in touch Larry! Regards, Jay

[@LarryDeSilva64]

What car are you going to restore Jay?@@RadioFixer

[@RadioFixer]

I have 1974 BMW model 2002 that I have since 1979. Have not drive it for over 30 years. Is a total restoration that started over 20 years ago. 😂. I got to finish it since is getting harder and harder to work on it. My brain says not a big deal but my body says what are you doing. 😂😂

[@a587g]

Nice job so far with this. I've got an 8S443 (this chassis in a huge table model) I recently restored, though waiting for warmer weather to do the cabinet. One of the issues with these sets was the 6X5 rectifier shorting, and taking out the power transformer. There are several ways to address it, if you want to keep the tube, a 6X5WGT is a good option, otherwise diodes and a dropping resistor under the chassis works well too (and is what I did). Also, don't forget the line bypass micamold cap- I don't believe it was listed on the schematic, but it's been present in most 1940 Zenith consoles I've worked on. I replaced it with a .01mfd Y2 cap.

[@RadioFixer]

Hi Adam, Happy good New Year and so good hearing from you! Thank you for reaching out and sending me a message and bringing this to my attention. This is my first floor model Zenith radio, tested the tubes and several of them were bad include 6X5G so ordered them include 6X5WGT tube. Spent so many days on internet and Antique radio forum trying to find the best way to handle 6X5 rectifier tube and what safety capacitor I need. Just received them, wished I asked you before spending that much time on internet, could finish it by now.. LOL Wishing you a great, health, and prosperous year! Have a great day Adam. Regards from Florida, Jay

[@a587g]

@@RadioFixer glad you figured out a good solution to the the 6X5 issue. Also happy that your transformer was still good. I ended up replacing mine (I had a parts chassis, thankfully!). I will look to see if I have a spare dial pointer from that chassis as well.

[@RadioFixer]

Adam, you are a true gentleman, just got back from the person who I bought his radio. He have another exactly like the one I bought, he loaned me his radio knobs so I can duplicated it. I also fund a dial pointer that I will duplicate that as well. Thank you so much for offering that Adam. You are a great person. Have a good day, Regards, Jay

[@DERB_Seymour_Indiana]

Coming right along with it Jay, looks good. :)

[@RadioFixer]

Hi Doug, Happy New Year! Schematic on this radio is challenging since is not as clear as others radio, but is coming along. Trying to finish this radio so I can spend more time on my car restoration. Wishing you a year of prosperity and health. Regards, Jay

[@derstrom8]

Just to clarify for folks new to the hobby, putting solder on the iron and then using the iron to apply it to the joint only works if the joint already has flux on it. Otherwise you are more likely to get a cold solder joint. Never try to "wipe" solder from an iron onto an un-fluxed joint, otherwise it will not bond. I will have to try the pigtail method. I have generally used the J-hook method but do not like it, as it ends up being very ugly. Soldering directly to the original terminals would naturally be my preferred solution, but is unfortunately not often practical.

[@RadioFixer]

Happy good New Year and so good hearing from you. Thank you for bringing that to my attention about mentioning to use solder flux. I talk about the flux and how to added to capacitor but forgot to emphasizing (never try to "wipe" solder from an iron onto an un-fluxed joint). Thank you for messaging me. I am like you prefer solder the capacitors to tube pins but sometimes is so difficult to remove everything that connected to one spot. Those pigtail is much cleaner connection and much simpler to replace. Wishing you a great, health, and prosperous year. Thank you for being in touch! Regards, Jay

[@probirdas7561]

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[@RadioFixer]

Hello, Happy New Year! Thank you so much for taking time to sent me this message. So glad that you enjoyed watching my videos. I am doing this as a hobby with no electronic background, trying my best to create detailed videos to encourage others without electronic background that are new to this hobby so they can understand and not get overwhelmed. The goal is to rescue old rusty, dusty, and ratty radios for future generation to enjoy the beauty of old technology and very unique designs. I definitely will check that, guss need to spend sometimes to learn more about what you mentioned here. Have a great day. Regards, Jay

[@probirdas7561]

@@RadioFixer if you want I will help you? But how I contact you ?

[@reBorn7458X]

I wish you could show in the video how you cleaned the chassis… have you washed it with water? Or just blow the dust off with air? Any added soap or solution? Thanks.

[@RadioFixer]

Hello, I think that I showed how to clean the electronic chassis. But don’t remember. 😂. Take it outside of the house since it might be so dirty. Use small paint brush and air to clean it. Document all tubes locations, then remove all so you can reach tight area. You can use liquid car wax after good cleaning. Be very careful not to damage wires. No water or any comical. Are you comfortable to use soldering iron? If this is your first time, practice on something else until you get comfortable. Hope this helps. Have a good day.

[@reBorn7458X]

@@RadioFixer Thank you. I am comfortable using soldering iron, I always dealt with new electronics…I just never restored old goodies 🙂

[@RadioFixer]

You will love this hobby, it is challenging, fun, and so rewarding. Let me know the result. Take good notes and also take tons of pictures. Those notes are pictures saved me so many times. 😂 Good luck and have

[@RadioFixer]

You are going to love this hobby. It is challenging, fun, and so rewarding. Take tons of notes and pictures. Those helped me so many times. Feel free to let me know the results. Take your time and enjoy the journey. Have a great day.