Hello
Upon re-capping a G.E 516 F clock radio, I was trying out the radio ---it was working great! But after about 30 minutes or slighly less, the radio suddenly began to emit a strong whistle. You can hear the stations faintly behind the whistle. The whistle changes high--and low --as you move the dial.

This is only the third radio I've recapped,( the other two are working like new). This G.E's radio's tube sockets don't have the usuall terminals--they're underneath a riviet on insulator..if the insulator is removed, you still cannot get a soldering iron into where the leads are--so I had to snip and use old leads from the wax caps...I cleaned them as best I could.

I'm kinda stumped as where else to look, as I checked and rechecked all my work over and over.

Can you advise?? (Please!)

Many Thanks,

Barry F.

Hi Barry

Most likely caused by a cap. You don't have to remove caps to find this problem. Just bridge across caps until the squeal is gone. Then just replace the bad one.

Missing tube shield can cause squeals. Since the radio was working not likely a problem. I would bridge caps.

Norm

:Hello
:Upon re-capping a G.E 516 F clock radio, I was trying out the radio ---it was working great! But after about 30 minutes or slighly less, the radio suddenly began to emit a strong whistle. You can hear the stations faintly behind the whistle. The whistle changes high--and low --as you move the dial.
:
:This is only the third radio I've recapped,( the other two are working like new). This G.E's radio's tube sockets don't have the usuall terminals--they're underneath a riviet on insulator..if the insulator is removed, you still cannot get a soldering iron into where the leads are--so I had to snip and use old leads from the wax caps...I cleaned them as best I could.
:
:
:I'm kinda stumped as where else to look, as I checked and rechecked all my work over and over.
:
:Can you advise?? (Please!)
:
:Many Thanks,
:
:Barry F.
:

:Hi Barry
:
: Most likely caused by a cap. You don't have to remove caps to find this problem. Just bridge across caps until the squeal is gone. Then just replace the bad one.
:
: Missing tube shield can cause squeals. Since the radio was working not likely a problem. I would bridge caps.
:
:Norm
:
::Hello
::Upon re-capping a G.E 516 F clock radio, I was trying out the radio ---it was working great! But after about 30 minutes or slighly less, the radio suddenly began to emit a strong whistle. You can hear the stations faintly behind the whistle. The whistle changes high--and low --as you move the dial.
::
::This is only the third radio I've recapped,( the other two are working like new). This G.E's radio's tube sockets don't have the usuall terminals--they're underneath a riviet on insulator..if the insulator is removed, you still cannot get a soldering iron into where the leads are--so I had to snip and use old leads from the wax caps...I cleaned them as best I could.
::
::
::I'm kinda stumped as where else to look, as I checked and rechecked all my work over and over.
::
::Can you advise?? (Please!)
::
::Many Thanks,
::
::Barry F.
::

Thank You, actually, before I read your reply, I did some dangerous live poking!! (yes with an Isolation Transformer and Veriac) and I found one of the caps that I installed was touching the tie point for a switch...these early 50's G.E clock radios, had a plug to use for a coffee pot---connected to the clock--my cap was butted up against it as I moved with the set on, suddenly the began to work like new. I'm happy because I have a new set of tubes on order!

Thanks again Norm!