radio puzzler

[Ronald F.]

OK, here's one fer y'all. The radio works fine; it will blast music forever. Until you turn it off. Then, it won't turn on again for a while. I'll just leave it switched on and a few trips later, it'll just magically start working again...... until I accidently turn it off.

Any ideas??

Thanks!

Ron

[Jerry R.]

Re: radio puzzler

That's easy to explain Ron.

There are two switch sections located in the rear most segment of the volume/tone/power control. The small moving mechanical pieces (that make the click sound) were generously lubricated when the control was made. The delay is coming from the parts trying to move in the old, hardened grease.

Since there is spring tension involved, the parts keep trying to move and eventually allow the electrical contacts to touch and the radio turns on.

The 72 and 73 radios have switches that are starting to fail regularly now. I've watched that particular failure progress steadily through the years like dominoes falling.

Other than taking the whole control apart to get to the back segment, and a few other methods you don't want to try without knowing exactly where the moving parts you can't see are during their on and off transitions, keep your eye peeled for a NOS control. Rare, yes, but they are still out there.

_Jerry_

[Wayne W.]

Re: radio puzzler

TV tuner cleaner should take care of that.

[Jerry R.]

Re: radio puzzler

The switch section is sealed Wayne. How can he spray it in without getting it on the deposited tone and volume carbon tracks (which it will turn to black mud and then the controls wiper will strip it off and destroy the control)?

[Ronald F.]

Re: radio puzzler

Thats what i was doing when i accidently turned it off. I tried spraying into the hole thru the dash but it didn't seem to help with static. It still hasnt turned back on.

[Jerry R.]

Re: radio puzzler

Try this Ron. Take a hair dryer and heat up the case on the drivers side where the switch is at. Turn the switch to "on" first. You may have to run it for a while (don't overheat it of course) but that may soften the grease and release the spring and bingo - you will have tunes again. The other way is to smack the side of the case in the same area and it may jar loose.

Whatever you do, don't use any type of tuner cleaner, contact cleaner or WD40 (all corrosive) to try and get rid of the scratching noise. Those are mechanical solutions and mechanics don't belong in radios with chemicals or hammers.

Have a good weekend! _Jerry_

[Tom K.]

Re: radio puzzler

Can't help but wonder what happened to all of those 50s and 60s radios volume/tone controls that I sprayed with tuner cleaner for my friends back in the mid 60s. My dad was in the TV repair business and I had to work for him growing up, but he refused to work on a car radio so that was my extra pocket money. It worked back then, but nobody kept a car or else the original radios for long. Then came the 4 track stereos. Ah for the good old days

[Wayne W.]

Re: radio puzzler

Yea, I have sprayed a ton of them with no problems at all. Good tv tuner cleaner is not going to hurt anything. I keep a can in the glove box all of the time. A couple of shots a year keeps the control clear and static free.

[Ronald F.]

Re: radio puzzler

Try this Ron. Take a hair dryer and heat up the case on the drivers side where the switch is at. Turn the switch to "on" first. You may have to run it for a while (don't overheat it of course) but that may soften the grease and release the spring and bingo - you will have tunes again. The other way is to smack the side of the case in the same area and it may jar loose.

Whatever you do, don't use any type of tuner cleaner, contact cleaner or WD40 (all corrosive) to try and get rid of the scratching noise. Those are mechanical solutions and mechanics don't belong in radios with chemicals or hammers.

Have a good weekend! _Jerry_

Oops! Too late. Well...I'll try the heater and hope for the best...Thanks!