I am restoring a Truetone D-1176 BC/shortwave radio (Grandma's). It will only pick up stations from about 1400 AM and up. The shortwave acts the same; it only picks up stations starting with same point on the slide rule scale. The stations that I do tune in start with a sharp "crack", and then stong reception and no more static. These stations do come in strong with or without the antenna hookups.

This set has been re-capped but has not been aligned.

What is causing the lack of reception?

: I am restoring a Truetone D-1176 BC/shortwave radio (Grandma's). It will only pick up stations from about 1400 AM and up. The shortwave acts the same; it only picks up stations starting with same point on the slide rule scale. The stations that I do tune in start with a sharp "crack", and then stong reception and no more static. These stations do come in strong with or without the antenna hookups.

: This set has been re-capped but has not been aligned.

: What is causing the lack of reception?

Brad,

It sounds like the tuning capacitor either has some dirt in between the plates, or one or more plates are bent just enough to short out as you tune lower and they start to mesh. A close visual inspection will tell you if any plates are bent (probably the moving rotor plates)...you may even hear them rub if you tune with the radio off. Bent plates can be easily nudged back into place. If that's not it, try blasting come compressed air thru the capacitor to remove dirt or any foreign matter that may do the same job of shorting things out. Good luck.
Jim

: Brad,

: It sounds like the tuning capacitor either has some dirt in between the plates, or one or more plates are bent just enough to short out as you tune lower and they start to mesh. A close visual inspection will tell you if any plates are bent (probably the moving rotor plates)...you may even hear them rub if you tune with the radio off. Bent plates can be easily nudged back into place. If that's not it, try blasting come compressed air thru the capacitor to remove dirt or any foreign matter that may do the same job of shorting things out. Good luck.

: Jim

Jim- That was it! So simple and easy... I only feel a LITTLE silly, but I'll get over it. Thanks!