Packard Bell AA5 Radio Repair

[@JerryEricsson]

Long ago even before this video was produced, go back, way back to 1968. My girlfriend (future wife of 51 years and 4 days (RIP)) drug me up to the family farm to visit with her folks and little brother. Now back then, the radio was still a mandatory product in every home, especially farm homes because they brought in the local news. For the farmer, the man of the house, the local market report on the sale of cattle and grain was mandatory listening, in fact my father-in-law (RIP) would stop chores and rush to the house to hear the market report, it was a great time for morning coffee over the sounds of an old tube radio, it's filter caps just beginning to fail with that hum behind the voice of the announcer as he read the report just off the teletype wire that was just outside the booth where he did his announcing. Earlier, my mother-in-law (RIP) would stop housework to listen to the Hospital Report, now this was a MUST HEAR, and was often followed by quick phone calls to gossip with her neighbors wondering what the latest admit was admitted for. Between those reports, in the summer months there would be some children's programming, and usually, sometime during the day the RADIO BINGO would play, you see you received a free radio bingo card for every 10 dollars worth of groceries you purchased at the local grocery store, and you just HAD to listen for those numbers to be called and mark them on your many cards, wishing to win the quarter of beef that was awarded to the lucky winner, or perhaps this week it would be ten gallons of gas at the local CO-OP gas station. The reason I bring this up is that the radio on their kitchen table looked exactly like the one you just repaired, and it brought back all those great memories. Ah yes, the days before the privacy act when the hospital report was most important. OH they still give the Birthday and Anniversary reports on our local radio daily, wonder how they can get by with that one?

[@cassandrajoiner9933]

Wow. I've never heard of a Hospital Report. Fascinating. You write very well.

[@Mr_Meowingtons]

i dont care if there is 100's of videos like this... its still a good video and was nice to watch on my lunch time..

[@christopherkise]

I totally agree, these videos are great! I pick up something new all the time..

[@ExtersGameplays]

You're right, these videos are good

[@chetpomeroy1399]

I *never* tire of seeing an old postwar AM radio being brought back to life. It is noticed that this is a 1954 model, but with no CONELRAD markings! If memory serves, AM radios manufactured between 1953-63 were required by Congress to have those triangular CD (Civil Defense) markings at 640 and 1240 kHz on the dial. The music being played was certainly appropriate for the era in which this set rolled off of the assembly line. That music sure brings back *a lot* of memories!

[@JerryEricsson]

Two days ago I was listening to a WIFI radio station, it was a replay of AFVN (Armed Forces Viet Nam,) they played songs that meant a LOT to my wife and I after I returned from my tour over there, and, well it hit me hard. You see I lost my wonderful wife to cancer 3 months ago, and thought I had begun to heal, but those songs, man it was one of the hardest days since her funeral. Music can really influence the mind, sometimes in the not so great way.

[@KeepitLow55]

I know nothing about electronics, but really enjoy all your videos. Between you and Radiophonotvnut you guys are awesome.

[@sbalneav]

Never get tired of watching an All-American 5 brought back to life, keep it up!

[@chakathewolf]

Your AA5 videos are actually my favorite. Your style of presentation is MUCH better than all the other KZbinrs. What you call 'ghetto' I call 'practical.'

[@TechHowden]

Then you should consider checking out buzz 1151

[@dick4042]

Love these little shoebox 5tubers. Simple to recap and they are cheap and easy to collect. They take up no room. Hot chassis radios are great radios to have in the bathroom. Turning them off after you just step out of the shower really wakes you up. Better then coffee.

[@7c3c72602f7054696b]

Nice.

[@MrUbiquitousTech]

I don't get tired of these videos. Each radio is a little different with a different history. And the learning never stops! Thanks for sharing!

[@kirbyyasha]

As someone who is learning these vintage electronics, I appreciate the time you take to explain things in your videos. I love watching them and love the finished product. If folks are sick of your videos, they can go elsewhere :) Keep on posting!

[@Pyridox]

Shango, I enjoy the radio & TV repair videos. The gain & clarity definitely improved after you aligned it.

[@toltec13]

Never get tired of seeing old radio repair

[@TurboTel68]

Shango, make videos of whatever you like. I find your videos interesting and am happy to subscribe. Between yourself and RadioTvPhononut I have learnt a lot and it has got me back into a previously abandoned interest in vintage electronics

[@kd8opi]

I like your videos a lot; a big part of it is your personality and style. You're funny, with a fantastic dry sense of humor. Kind of inspired me to get into this stuff, at least a little bit. I say don't stop making these vids about AA5's.

[@JerryEricsson]

Looks exactly like the radio that sat on the kitchen table at my in-law's farm back in 1969 when I was dating their daughter (all RIP). Since then, of course the house was torn down and replaced and I would guess the radio is out in their private land fill, my brother-in-law is about to retire and leave the farm to his son, my how time flies.

[@toltec13]

Never get sick of watching radio repair.

[@cttv90108]

I like the retro cabinet design of that radio, it would look great polished up.

[@jackallen6261]

I am that newbie beginner guy at the beginning of the video that you address. I have been watching Uncle Doug's videos and then The Guitaolist videos and finally I found this channel! Very cool and thanks so much for posting these repair / how to vids. I would like to ultimately learn more about solid state stuff but for now I am fascinated by the tube videos! Thank you so much for posting!

[@AudioMobil]

I would love to have a AM station like this here in Germany. This really makes AM worth listening to!

[@dorothydale4683]

nice video again. what gets me is how on all the videos of yours i've watched, you were always able to turn the i.f. cores. great stuff though

[@wdavem]

I'll watch any video of any gear you want to work on. I like the radio videos as they are at least kind of close to vtr signal processing and I still have some to learn there. I'm nearly confident enough though to start a custom project thanks to videos like these. I also like learning of vacuum filled transistor bulbs.

[@7c3c72602f7054696b]

Very good video, I can't stop watching your channel, you're very funny and take a similar approach as I do repairing old junk.

[@dynamic881964]

I am still a newbie and appreciate all the information , basic or not ! It does help and this is where I will start , with an AA5 set ! Thank you Shango 066 . Dave in Mi.

[@davehebert3403]

One great thing about smoke: it pinpoints the problem immediately :D

[@davehebert3403]

@@daleburrell6273 You can say that again, Dale! LOL!

[@Boozion]

Cool little radio. I never get bored watching your videos on old radiozzz. I have learned a lot from you and radiotvphononut. You guy's are the best. I love vintage electroncs. I have an old GE clock radio like the one that you showed in your 1 dollar radio video. Mine works but started to smoke too. I think it might be the resistor the one that gets warm. I will have to do a video on that one when I replace the old resistor. Fun to watch smoke and fire if your lucky enough to watch it burst in to flames. Anywayzzz I think you should do more radios anyway. TV's are fun to watch too. Take care and have fun. 😊

[@davidlegault9745]

Great video. I never tire of watching vintage radios being brought back to life. Thank you for taking the time to make these videos. Regards, Dave (TVs are OK too)

[@robertpearl6037]

Iam glad you and all the other guys are out there with the all american 5.

[@nor4277]

I am old beginner ,I built a lot of kits,including one I found in a old electronic store,a tube tuner from the 50,,s with a magic Eye kits it still works for the last 30 years,just ask.my x wife ,but I find your five tube radios video pretty good to learn from ,I have one I trying to get to work as soon as I find the right caps to replace a wax cap.so please keep making these kind of videos

[@glennidalski6833]

Very intertaining shang066 and educational too I have been working with tube electronics for 40 years now and it is fun to work on this stuff

[@RODALCO2007]

I love your video's Shango, TV's, Radio's and whatever you produce. It is brilliant and I love the detailed analyses, with the occasional smoke release to keep it exciting. Keep up the splendid work.

[@galaxyflyer1]

Thank you very much for making these videos and explaining theory. It is much appreciated.

[@racecar_spelled_backwards868]

Much thanks from a n00b! You are getting me into valves a lot more than I ever thought I'd be!

[@daylightbigboy]

And now 1260 KBOQ changed their format again to oldies. Mostly it's 50s and 60s doo wop stuff but it seems like they're venturing more into the late 60s with The Beatles and whatnot. Love listening to them on my Zenith Royal 400.

[@wickerbill7793]

Shango66 you’re a riot. I don’t know squat about electronics other than red to red and black to black but you make these vids so interesting, maybe I’m learning something because I think I know the difference between a capacitor and a resistor. Oh I made a crystal set radio in high school shop some 58 years ago. My guess is that if you like that “Unforgettable” station we’re about the same age group, (Boomers). I grew up in the San Gabriel Valley and by the sound of all those airplanes flying overhead you might be near one of the airports either in the San Fernando or San Gabriel Valley’s. I like this vid in particular because you encourage folks who are interested in learning about this stuff is go get an old radio and dig in. I wish I had my Mom’s old Motorola AM radio my Dad gave in 1952 that he bought at the Douglas Aircraft company store in Long Beach. We’re never too old to learn something new.

[@williamsquires3070]

For our next performance, shango066 will replace all the vacuum bulbs in the transistor radio... :)

[@judges69]

I love every video you do on these radios, I learn something new on every one you do. When your new to this it can be the smallest bit of info but it adds up. wish you would do more pp and single ended tube amps.

[@wdavem]

That am station makes me wonder if someone with big extra cash hated the lack of decent music on AM and brute forced a fix.

[@JerryEricsson]

I have been converting old radios to WIFI so I can tune them in to the era that they played when new. Sounds great and many of the old radio stations also play period advertising as well for added realism

[@wdavem]

@@JerryEricsson ok! I really like the sound of recieved FM stereo so I get it. Sometimes I still record music I like from broadcast stereo onto 1/4" 2 track 15ips. It's an unusual thing to do but it's a lot of fun.

[@TheMushtyroo]

I never bore watching your videos Shango :)

[@alphabeets]

Love your videos. I enjoyed this one a bit more than others because you took a little extra time to explain some things for us newbies. I always look forward to your videos. Lots of fun!

[@jassenjj]

Oh, "smoke is good", I am writing this down... Shango, you really make even a video for AA5 interesting!

[@kennethbrockman4891]

Guess What I'm not sick of watching any old radio Resurrection video, keep up the good work. I like your channel because once in a while you get fireworks. Thanks Much BigKenney...

[@sting1111]

This is one of my favorite Shango videos.

[@Synthematix]

Wow you did a good job of this, it sounds like an FM radio shango.

[@drfalcon4102]

I enjoy watching,, radio, tv or plumbing,, even car repair, a jack of all trades, and hes not scared to get his hands dirty,,

[@PecanPie1102]

It's been two weeks since your video. Im missing them. Good video the Packard sound the best. Saw a video that connected radio and record player in the 40s WIRELESS with Packard tubes

[@n2n8sda]

Good video, I enjoyed it. As you said it might just be another AA5 video but it's always fun to see your approach to getting them back up and running, anytime the 15000uf cap comes out it's fun. Had the video on in the background while working on a PSU. Oh and disc caps in a 50's radio.. nice touch from Packard Bell...

[@hql400]

wow, a brand new video ;) I enjoy your videos very much, shango, and I'm not tired watching them. Your systematics in fixing the problems is world class, your descriptions, too! Entertainment an learning in its best way... I'm in repairing Radio/TV for more than 30 years and learned it as a profession in the late 80's. Its funny to see this lots of tube stuff in 2017 ;) will keep watching it.. Sorry for bad english greetings from Germany

[@petedazer2556]

I've done five of those 531, 5R1 sets, only because of sentimental reasons and you could not have picked a cheaper set to do. They were also sold in kit form, and later versions had a nice B- buss ran from the center of the two outside tubes. Your 15000 mfd filter cap will fry your 35W4 shortly. At least you didn't set this one on fire or blow it up, I guess that's an improvement!

[@RODALCO2007]

15,000µF filter cap. brilliant !

[@MisterTalkingMachine]

Christmas music, when did you record this, again? When you squash the antenna coil you basically are tuning it like a car radio. Instead of moving a slug, you change the shape of the coil.

[@olradguy]

I used one of these PB chassis to replace a Crosley farm radio chassis a set that someone bought at auction thinking it was a.c powered, he was wanting to use the radio so I found that this chassis was easy to adapt to the Crosley cabinet I just had to add spacers under the tuner to get the vericap to the right height to line up with the cabinet and original tuning mechanism. Both of these radios used the "backward" variable capacitor, high end of the band was at the counter clockwise end of the dial. Everything matched up great both radios had the controls in right places and the customer had a useful radio that he uses all the time.

[@felixcat4346]

Well this guy is the best. I found an all Mexican five in the recinto ferriel and replaced the electrolytic caps and of course it works without any mods. It didn't short on power up and just a lot of fun to play with. All the tubes are American, everything else says "Hecho en Mexico", even the if transformers.

[@orkooliva1895]

i never bore shango you are the best.

[@Evan420]

i was bored, but not anymore! Just unsubscribed and resubscribed to receive notifications from you.

[@dcformee123]

it sure is nice to actually have music on am again the only ones that you can get music is Mexican stuff and in Southern California or Armenian or Chinese or whatever but no English station so it's nice to have something if you only have an AM radio in an old car it's nice to have something to listen to!

[@brianandrews7099]

I feel like I am back in grade school, watching a filmstrip that is one slide behind the record!

[@cameraguy4767]

Yeah, keep the radios coming. More radios!

[@paulszpreglewski7546]

nope not tired of a radio restore

[@Oldcomputer]

There is a station that does the same thing near me. They feed their AM transmitter with the FM "hd" subchannel. It saves them money on the backhaul out to the transmitter site. They are just keeping the transmitter running as cheaply as possible to keep the license active hoping someday AM will come back and they can sell advertising again.

[@markmarkofkane8167]

I enjoy old radios. I have 2 tube clock radios. (2 radios, not 2 tubes, lol) They both work. One was Dad's, (Motorola) another is one (G.E ) I bought off of eBay. I also have a Philco "old style" but is solid state. The FM is low, and has a hum. I am afraid to mess with it. We had it since 1974.

[@stridermt2k]

You are making me want to find one and, you know...fix it up.

[@docfoot316]

Many thanks and great radio .,always enjoy ur videos

[@TannerTech]

Hello, I am currently fixing an old tube clock radio, and I am having an issue. I changed all of the capacitors, and there is a very strong 60hz hum whenever there is an antenna connected. Without the antenna, it is quiet. The odd thing is, it was working fine right after I did the repairs, but I turned it off for a few hours then turned it back on again, it stopped working. Any suggestions?

[@Amp497]

I like your vid, especially the light bulb. I forgot about it. Thanks!

[@Radiowild]

Great point! This is what you want to learn on! Easy and plentiful! It's a blown-up bumblebee! Junk!

[@alphabeets]

I always like learning about applefires and rectumfires and transistoraters.

[@tkelly411]

what happened to shangos' vid of repair of the smoking 70 year old household wiring?

[@mariojr377]

All your vídeos are very interesting. Best regards from Brazil, Mário.

[@vwestlife]

Is that all there is?

[@MrChief101]

Ahh, you should'a just done the IF cans. Really nice radio station-- wish there was something like that around me.

[@tiporari]

LMAO 15kMFD 100% hum reduction. You're killing me!

[@TheMadmagik]

not availible in uk? pity was looking forward to watching it

[@cornishsean1]

i see it from the uk

[@TheMadmagik]

Stowe1664 yup looks like it has im trying to view in app but it works on laptop.

[@bobweiss8682]

Amazed that the 15,000 uF capacitor didn't blow the 35W4 or the 68 ohm cathode resistor from the current surge when it first charged up...

[@joesmith5265]

the radio thats being worked on is a Packard Bell 5R1 same chassis as a 531 except the filter caps 20 and 50 to 50 and 50 plus the death cap is .05 instead of 0.47 a couple of resistor values also. but basicly same radio.

[@andygozzo72]

we had a similar 5 valve/tube line up over here in the uk, but 0.1amp string, instead of 0.15amp with the aa5, ours was uch42, uf41, ubc41, ul41, uy41, which also spookily added up to about 117v , so would be suitable for the usa! did these b8a valves appear in the usa? they also were available with usa like type numbers....?

[@arthureverett8220]

They use those giant electrolytics in arcade video game power supplies with a 5 amp bridge rectifier. They have very low ac ripple which the logic circuits like to see

[@tinicum54]

I started in 1969. When I was 14. Built my own audio amp.

[@TonyFleetwood]

good timing, i needed a distraction.

[@sirmugman]

wife just found out you brought home another tv/radio/car from yesteryear that needs major work?

[@TonyFleetwood]

sirmugman yes. a 1965 crown imperial 4 door

[@DarkGT]

Hi (i'm not expert please don't make fun of me) I have old Soviet radio called Alpinist 321. Last time (before 2-3 years) was working fine at FM stations (no AM station picked, no available anymore). When I investigate I found out that the bobine thing in the upper part has broken wire, I use my screwdriver and make contact to the point where need to be. The problem was that the FM stations was only from the neighbor country from mine and the radio was able to pick only 2 stations. There isn't any visible capacitors damage, there are all aluminum sort of model. What is the most common reason for that type of problem?

[@maxhifi1232]

Those bare aluminum K50-XX capacitors made in the USSR are suspect, I've replaced lots of bad ones. Damage is never visible, you need to test them electrically. That said, there could be any number of problems.

[@JulioRipoll]

R.I.P Shango :(

[@johnsobery]

Just wondering what you use to free up those frozen switches and tuners. Wd40? It's neat to see how you can bring these radios back. Never gets old.

[@wrnchhead76]

In another video, he recommends Rem Oil ( a.co/7P7tX7T ) I got some for a radio I obtained, and it fixed the noisy pots perfectly.

[@johnsobery]

Thanks!

[@Grobbekee]

So, that's basically sewing machine oil? Makes sense.

[@NJPurling]

The capacitor that became a firecracker. They are typically a waxed-paper type in a English radio. But the wax is not moisture proof so they become resistors. Strange that there isn't a mound of wax inside the case. As we are on 230V in the UK they sweat forth the wax for a while.

[@justsumguy2u]

I never get tired of the radios, I hope you post more of them. I had one of those in white, and it was not a hot performer. It is normal for the volume to get louder when you place your hand near the loop---you're effectively acting as an external antenna, and I've never had a radio not do that.

[@brucapozzoli]

smoke is good! absolutely true

[@mattw7734]

What could you expect one of these basic radios from the fifties to be worth when fully restored?

[@engineerorama1]

I like to fix old radios also. Looking for a source for polypropylene caps, typical values found in AA5s. Any info? Thanks.

[@tech45]

Shango,Great station.!Can you stream it online?

[@DoRC]

atypical or a typical?

[@DoRC]

what's wrong with your camera? I do t remember seeing that dark band before.

[@williefleete]

Do R/C! It will be the fluorescent lamps

[@MsCori76]

Do R/C! If you are referring to the barber pole effect, it's the Fluorescent light interfering with his camera.

[@DonnyHooterHoot]

Just found an RCA 14X AA5. Recaps ordered.

[@kareno8634]

THANKS SO MUCH! I Need to see any and all; Learning is going to take me into next life, but . . eh. May DramacRats deflate. soon.

[@markmarkofkane8167]

I could be wrong, but did you connect capacitors in series? I learned that caps in series reduced capacitence. Maybe that was the intention? For voltage? Just curious. :)

[@waltschannel7465]

Mark, if you mean the electrolytic caps in the power supply, no Shango did not connect them in series. He tied the negative leads together, which could look like a series connection. He also glued them to the chassis with the writing down, which makes is harder to see this.

[@markmarkofkane8167]

@@waltschannel7465 Thanks!

[@rfburns5601]

Since the IF transformer adjustments on the bottom side of the chassis were close, and the filter cap had been replaced with the wrong value, I suspect someone was tweaking on the top side.

[@mrGoesto11]

Would have been great to see the can caps replaced. Never seen a vid replacing micas with film

[@Bubu567]

I have seen quite a few CC resistor the read just fine but crackle(stormy sound) when sound goes through them.

[@سلطانالليل-ت1خ]

مرحبآ عندي سؤال إذا سمحت هل يوجد مادة الزئبق في الراديو هل من الممكن ان تشرح لنا أين مكان الزئبق في الراديو شكرآ جزيلآ

[@Oliver-md8yp]

What is the name of this AM-Station? Nice music... Here in germany all AM-stations down ;(

[@mounilef]

the vidéo is not availble out of USA. is it a restriction

[@eivindamundsen7090]

Any (unsafe) suggestions on how to run AA5 radios on 240V ? 🤔 I don't wanna use a isolation transformer (larger than the radios) or a 240v->110v line transformer. I know Philco/Philips had some radios (like 208U) with a 110v-115v-220v voltage selector switch. The radios had the tube filaments in series. Btw Shango: I love these videos, they never get tiresome. It's not porn, but it's the next best thing you can watch on the net🙂 👍

[@andygozzo72]

capacitive dropper is easiest...

[@andygozzo72]

@@daleburrell6273 no, not if you use a 'suitable' type capacitor, a 'motor run' type, not some tiddly 'orange drop' thingy 😉 most radios would be 300mA max, anyway so not too bad .... problem with using a capacitor dropper, a plain resistor,or even some 240 to 120v step down transformers is a 120v radio would be designed for 120v max from live parts to earth, in some cases, a 120v set run off 240v by certain dropping schemes could have parts 240v to earth, (several 240 to 120v autotransformer 'bricks' i've come across are incorrectly wired with the 'live' input being common, meaning its 120v out between poles ,as required, but one pole is 120 to earth, correct, but the other 240 to earth, not correct, may cause problems and be dangerous with some equipment!)

[@andygozzo72]

@@daleburrell6273 yes, as long as its wired correctly...some arent!

[@andygozzo72]

@@daleburrell6273 problem is how to tell if they are, before getting/buying one.... i've come across some Tacima branded ones, probably 20+ ish years ago, those were ok... a couple of MW branded ones from maplin one, plug type 45w, one brick type, 100w were both incorrect...

[@andygozzo72]

some american sets didnt have the chassis directly connected to one side of the mains, it was connected only through a parallelled resistor and capacitor, the ht negative line, connected to mains 'neutral' , hopefully, was a separate isolated line, this reduced the 'shock' current if the chassis or control spindles were accidentally touched, it was still used as an effective rf ground for the gang capacitor in many cases as the isolating capacitor passed rf easil but not mains 60hz, pity most uk radio manufacturers didnt use this idea to make our ac/dc live chassis sets safer, only a very few models did as far as i know...

[@DavidCaldwell1]

love your work

[@rsattahip]

You could take the tubes out and it would still pick up KNX in the South Bay. Those color-coded capacitors were leaky back in the late 60's when that radio was about 15 years old.