[Joseph Skrypka]

New issue with this restoration. I’ve brought the radio back to life, changing all of the caps and any resistors that were out of spec. However, the signals disappear below about 800 khz (on the am band). Above that 800 khz (ish) mark, the radio works well, but as I tune down the dial, the radio becomes suddenly quiet as I tune below that 800 khz mark.
Any suggestions?

[Sterling Spurrell]

Did you clean tuning capacitor and also check to see if any of the fins have shorted out?

[Joseph Skrypka]

I wired a battery in series across the variable capacitor and found, indeed that it was shorting across the fins. It took quite a while, but managed to bend the guilty fin back into a position that solved the issue.
The radio works well, but I’m seeing low voltages throughout the radio and haven’t been able to diagnose the cause of this.
However, I’m particularly interested in finding out if anyone has any experience with the push button tuners on these old RCA radios. I followed the instructions to try to program each of the buttons to receive specific stations, but I’m having no luck. The radio isn’t responding at all as I adjust the cores and trimmers as instructed by the technical specs.

[Dan Walker]

Here is a link to a video covering RCA push buttons. I believe you have the model A 39, not just 39
There are three wires that MUST be connected,to the push button assembly and they come from the chassis to the push buttons.I believe the video covers that.
One of the push buttons is for phono, and you should be able to see the RCA jack on the push buttons

Dan in Calgary.

[Dan Walker]

Here is a link to a video covering RCA push buttons. I believe you have the model A 39, not just 39
There are three wires that MUST be connected,to the push button assembly and they come from the chassis to the push buttons.I believe the video covers that. Make sure that the antenna is connected
One of the push buttons is for phono, and you should be able to see the RCA jack on the push buttons

Dan in Calgary.

[Dan Walker]

I don’t seem to be able to get rid of the double post.
There are the letters R, C and F on the schematic where you plug in the three wires.. [on the push buttons]
I know there is a designation as to what wires they refer to but I do not remember . Hopefully someone else can tell you
I tried
Dan in Calgary

[Joseph Skrypka]

Excellent. Just what I needed! Hopefully I’ll be able to set these up tomorrow and then the restoration will be complete.

[Joseph Skrypka]

Interestingly, I could not tune these push buttons while I had the chassis on the bench. I worked on that single component for a couple of hours. However, once I assembled it back into the cabinet, the push buttons immediately responded to tuning. Not sure why, but ultimately, success.

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