63 Radio
Hi Murray Forman here in Australia. I have aproblem with my 63 radio the FM works but AM doese't .I have had the radio checked and they tell me it works fine on the bench on both bands. Installed it back inthe car same problem . I now have changed the aerial and the cable to the radio ,still same problem . Has any one got any idears. Murray
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Re: 63 Radio
[quote=Murray Forman (37371);486793]Hi Murray Forman here in Australia. I have aproblem with my 63 radio the FM works but AM doese't .I have had the radio checked and they tell me it works fine on the bench on both bands. Installed it back inthe car same problem . I now have changed the aerial and the cable to the radio ,still same problem . Has any one got any idears. Murray -
Re: 63 Radio
Murray,
When I was preparing my 59 for judging in 07, my Wonderbar AM only radio hadn't been turned on for about 15 years. I removed my underdash FM stereo receiver and twin speakers, installed my original speaker, and connected the antenna to the WB and it worked, but very weak. When I had the car judged, I was in a area near Orlando Florida with great AM signal. The seek function worked great, and AM reception was fine.
I suspect it may be that you don't have good signal to pick up a good AM station. Was the radio bench tested at a shop close to a city with strong AM signals? Maybe next time you're close to a city with good AM reception it'll be better.
It is also possible that your antenna ground strap at the chassis mount could have a bad connection and corrosion. Also make sure your antenna is raised to it's max for AM. AM requires the mast to be at it's max length, where FM only requires about 2 feet of mast.
RichComment
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Re: 63 Radio
Believe the FM is 30" on the mast - least I hope so as I have been following that spec for nearly 47 years now, measuring it religously.
Also, make certain your car has the metal reflective panel installed beneath the antenna under the body surface. Don't recall how you can observe this, but I believe it is visable from under the car. I had mine out last in 1976 so I can't recall too much about it other than it is very necessary for reception with a fiberglass body.
Stu FoxComment
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Re: 63 Radio
Good point Stu, I thought it was around 2 feets.....
Yes......That metal plate is a PITA to get at. I had to remove the left muffler, etc to get up there, then just barely.
RichComment
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Re: 63 Radio
It's been a long time since I did this but it strikes me that on older radios there is a "Trim" screw. If you get any reception or better reception by touching the antenna then it is possible that this screw needs adjustment. If I remember correctly you tune the radio to a lower frequency AM station then adjust the screw for maximum volume. My feeble memory also suggests to me that it is just above or beside the tuning knob on these radios. Maybe someone more familiar can help you with the location of this screw. I believe this only affects AM reception and has no impact on FM reception.Golf is for those who can't play hockey.Comment
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Re: 63 Radio
Norm is correct. The AM trim screw is on the right side near the rear. See the attached pictures.
KenComment
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Re: 63 Radio
Hi, Murray, UJ here...
The symptoms you describe are 'classic' for one or both of two things:
(1) The antenna cable lead-in wire is fatigue fractured internally resulting in poor electrical continuity.
(2) As others mentioned, the radio hasn't been trim adjusted for optimum capacitive coupling to the specifics of your car's antenna + lead-in cable.
I presume you're trying to get AM reception at your home in Kurrajong Hills... You're a decent distance away from Sydney and probably 'pushing' the AM receiver. BOTH of the above are consideration issues.
In general, AM is MUCH more sensitive to antenna integrity than FM. It's not uncommon for restored cars to have a continuity issue with the antenna lead-in cable. Why?
The conductor inside the cable is human hair thin in terms of its cross section. Grabbing, pulling, yanking on these cables when doing interior restoration (installing fresh carpet, Etc.) CAN result in cable fracture.
Sometime this can be a real 'pickle' issue because the fractured internal wire can randomly 'make' or 'break' circuit. Plus the damage can be inside the cable OR at the banana plug connector that plugs into the radio resulting in Jeckyl/Hyde performance.
The 'acid' test is fast/easy/cheap. Stateside, we'd walk down to a mass merchandise retailer (K-Mart, WalMart) and buy an el cheapo replacement radio antenna assy with captive lead-in wire ($8-10). Then, with the radio still in the dash, remove the RH access panel and gently unplug the existing antenna and plug in the replacement.
You'd sit in the driver's seat and with the passenger door/window open, have a helper (m'lady Wendy comes to mind) walk the replacement antenna outside and rearward with the engine OFF, ignition/radio ON while you operate the radio looking for stations on the AM band.
If 'suddenly' you get AM reception that wasn't possible before, you can conclude you're fighting a bad or intermittent antenna lead-in cable that needs to be replaced...
It'd be nice if you did this test in downtown Sydney since that would eliminate complicating factors (lack of the car's antenna ground plate with the replacement antenna being 'free' mounted, and proper antenna trim adjustment) as the higher native signal strength would SWAP these considerations. But, IF it is a lead-in cable integrity issue you're fighting the difference will still be of day vs. night magnitude!Comment
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Re: 63 Radio
I have a 63 Wonderbar that I would like to bench test to see how well it works and if I need to send it out for restoration. I have an original speaker and test antenna. I have this test plug, but I'm not sure which wires go where. Can the black wire with the ground terminal be attached to the radio itself as a ground and how do the other wires, black, gray and yellow come into play? I've attached a picture of my test plug.
Thanks
Radio Test Plug.jpgComment
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Re: 63 Radio
Jerry,
That test plug looks like a radio power connector cut away from a Main harness or a repair replacement. It is plugged into the radio 3 terminal receptacle(3 blade terminals). The plug is keyed. Here is a file photo of a AM/FM(U69) radio showing the plug receptacle(upper right in photo). I think same place on AM only(U65)
s-l1600.jpg
The 2 Blacks that are tied together are Ground. The wire with the terminal would normally attach to the crossbar with a screw/star washer and the the other black inside the harness ground junctions.
Yellow is Power(+12v) Note: Add a 15 amp fuse between +12v and Yellow for safety.
Gray is from the Instrument light circuit to power the radio lamp. You could tie that also to +12v to check the internal radio lamp. Note the lamp should only be powered with radio turned on.
RichComment
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Re: 63 Radio
Rich,
Would I then hook the speaker up normally with its separate plug?Comment
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Re: 63 Radio
Yes just like normally when installed in the car, connected up before power is applied to the radio. You may have to adjust the antenna trim for AM to get a signal. IIRC there's a small opening next to the tuning knob for a small (plastic is best) screwdriver.
RichComment
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Re: 63 Radio
I got power to the radio and did get some static without any real sound. Plus, the wonderbar doesn't work. I guess it's time for a full restoration along with the 10ohm speakerComment
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Re: 63 Radio
Not surprised, but are you inside the house or garage? Appears you have a U65 AM only radio(Wonderbar went away on U69 AM FM) so it may be that you're not close enough to a AM station. I had the same problem on my 59 radio but once I got out on the road I picked up some stations.
Regardless, 50+ year old capacitors have a slim chance of being functional so best to get it redone.
RichComment
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Re: 63 Radio
As I understand it you have a Wonderbar AM only radio.
So no ground plate under the antenna.
Only on the AM - FM Cars.
Restoration shop added one on my AM car.
Received a deduction because of the addition.
RickComment
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