i just about got this radio going it will play softley and intermittently with a big antenna i see a ring of bright plasma inside of the 6k5g 1st audio i all so here crackling and the ring jumps around in side of the tube at the same time. all the tubes are new and most of the capacitors all the wireing looks good to. i have tryed evereything i no to get rid of the ring the olnley thing that stops it is to unplue the speaker witch has the output transformer on it can aney one tell me how to fix this problem? thanks seth

The "plasma" inside the 6K5 is probably some trapped gas, which may not be
serious. It seems you have other problems. If you hear crackling, this is likely
the result of sparking. Check for partially cracked resistors, or dirt/dust between
the plates of the variable capacitor. Could also be deterioration of insulation on a wire.
If it plays softly, it probably means that power supply voltages are low, which could result
from a bad resistor or capacitor. I recently fixed a Philco that had a bad audio output
transformer, the primary winding was open. You could have a transformer that is
intermittently open or shorting.

Rich

:i just about got this radio going it will play softley and intermittently with a big antenna i see a ring of bright plasma inside of the 6k5g 1st audio i all so here crackling and the ring jumps around in side of the tube at the same time. all the tubes are new and most of the capacitors all the wireing looks good to. i have tryed evereything i no to get rid of the ring the olnley thing that stops it is to unplue the speaker witch has the output transformer on it can aney one tell me how to fix this problem? thanks seth

thanks for the infor rich i gave the radio a good looking over and i did find the voltage love on the 6k5g around 75v all so the voltage jumps around when i here the crackling all the resistors look good i ran the radio in the dark and did not see aney sparking. i changed the capacitors with new ones but no change? all so some times when i shut the radio of it will chirp? can u tell me how i can test the audio transformer and if it is bad where can i get a new one thanks........... seth :The "plasma" inside the 6K5 is probably some trapped gas, which may not be
:serious. It seems you have other problems. If you hear crackling, this is likely
:the result of sparking. Check for partially cracked resistors, or dirt/dust between
:the plates of the variable capacitor. Could also be deterioration of insulation on a wire.
:If it plays softly, it probably means that power supply voltages are low, which could result
:from a bad resistor or capacitor. I recently fixed a Philco that had a bad audio output
:transformer, the primary winding was open. You could have a transformer that is
:intermittently open or shorting.
:
:
:Rich
:
::i just about got this radio going it will play softley and intermittently with a big antenna i see a ring of bright plasma inside of the 6k5g 1st audio i all so here crackling and the ring jumps around in side of the tube at the same time. all the tubes are new and most of the capacitors all the wireing looks good to. i have tryed evereything i no to get rid of the ring the olnley thing that stops it is to unplue the speaker witch has the output transformer on it can aney one tell me how to fix this problem? thanks seth

Did you check the plates of the variable capacitors? Could be accumulated dust
and dirt causing sparking.

When you say "plasma" do you mean a bluish glow inside the tube? That's typical of gas. If
you actually see sparking or sharp flashes inside the tube, then
the tube is defective. The plasma jumps around because the voltage
drops down during a "spark." The glow disappears when you unplug the speaker because in all
likelihood, the speaker field is being used as a filter choke
for the B+ voltage. When you disconnect the speaker you remove
the high voltage from the 6K5.

You can check the audio transformer with an ohm meter, but this will only tell
you whether you have an open winding. The primary should be fairly high resistance...maybe
50 to 500 ohms, and the secondary (speaker side) should be a couple of ohms or less.

Antique Electronic Supply has audio transfomers. www.tubesandmore.com

Rich

:thanks for the infor rich i gave the radio a good looking over and i did find the voltage love on the 6k5g around 75v all so the voltage jumps around when i here the crackling all the resistors look good i ran the radio in the dark and did not see aney sparking. i changed the capacitors with new ones but no change? all so some times when i shut the radio of it will chirp? can u tell me how i can test the audio transformer and if it is bad where can i get a new one thanks........... seth :The "plasma" inside the 6K5 is probably some trapped gas, which may not be
::serious. It seems you have other problems. If you hear crackling, this is likely
::the result of sparking. Check for partially cracked resistors, or dirt/dust between
::the plates of the variable capacitor. Could also be deterioration of insulation on a wire.
::If it plays softly, it probably means that power supply voltages are low, which could result
::from a bad resistor or capacitor. I recently fixed a Philco that had a bad audio output
::transformer, the primary winding was open. You could have a transformer that is
::intermittently open or shorting.
::
::
::Rich
::
:::i just about got this radio going it will play softley and intermittently with a big antenna i see a ring of bright plasma inside of the 6k5g 1st audio i all so here crackling and the ring jumps around in side of the tube at the same time. all the tubes are new and most of the capacitors all the wireing looks good to. i have tryed evereything i no to get rid of the ring the olnley thing that stops it is to unplue the speaker witch has the output transformer on it can aney one tell me how to fix this problem? thanks seth

thanks for the help. the variable capacitors look real good on this radio nice and clean. the light i see in the 6k5g looks like a neion tube much brighter than the bluish glow u sometimes see in tubes it seams to hold on to the metal parts inside of the tube. the 6k5g is a new tube from antique electronic supply. i have been playing with this radio and found that from time to time it will pop and the volume will come way up but not full and it is distorted and glassey sounding and when i turn it down it will either squeal or sound more glassey?? i have changed the volume nob and made shure all the tube shelds are makeing good contact with no change. all so when testing with my meater i can tuch one prong on the 6k5g and one on the 6k7 and the radio will play louder but still not clear. the audio transformer tests good. this radio has got me stumped thanks for the help:Did you check the plates of the variable capacitors? Could be accumulated dust
:and dirt causing sparking.
:
:When you say "plasma" do you mean a bluish glow inside the tube? That's typical of gas. If
:you actually see sparking or sharp flashes inside the tube, then
:the tube is defective. The plasma jumps around because the voltage
:drops down during a "spark." The glow disappears when you unplug the speaker because in all
:likelihood, the speaker field is being used as a filter choke
:for the B+ voltage. When you disconnect the speaker you remove
:the high voltage from the 6K5.
:
:You can check the audio transformer with an ohm meter, but this will only tell
:you whether you have an open winding. The primary should be fairly high resistance...maybe
:50 to 500 ohms, and the secondary (speaker side) should be a couple of ohms or less.
:
:Antique Electronic Supply has audio transfomers. www.tubesandmore.com
:
:Rich
:
:
::thanks for the infor rich i gave the radio a good looking over and i did find the voltage love on the 6k5g around 75v all so the voltage jumps around when i here the crackling all the resistors look good i ran the radio in the dark and did not see aney sparking. i changed the capacitors with new ones but no change? all so some times when i shut the radio of it will chirp? can u tell me how i can test the audio transformer and if it is bad where can i get a new one thanks........... seth :The "plasma" inside the 6K5 is probably some trapped gas, which may not be
:::serious. It seems you have other problems. If you hear crackling, this is likely
:::the result of sparking. Check for partially cracked resistors, or dirt/dust between
:::the plates of the variable capacitor. Could also be deterioration of insulation on a wire.
:::If it plays softly, it probably means that power supply voltages are low, which could result
:::from a bad resistor or capacitor. I recently fixed a Philco that had a bad audio output
:::transformer, the primary winding was open. You could have a transformer that is
:::intermittently open or shorting.
:::
:::
:::Rich
:::
::::i just about got this radio going it will play softley and intermittently with a big antenna i see a ring of bright plasma inside of the 6k5g 1st audio i all so here crackling and the ring jumps around in side of the tube at the same time. all the tubes are new and most of the capacitors all the wireing looks good to. i have tryed evereything i no to get rid of the ring the olnley thing that stops it is to unplue the speaker witch has the output transformer on it can aney one tell me how to fix this problem? thanks seth