Anybody know a quick way to do an alignment on a radio?

Hi John

If you don't have equipment try this. Adjust the pointer at high end of the dial first. Peak up antenna trimmer. If you have a padder cap adjust it on a station near low end of your dial. Adjust for max volume while rocking tuning back and forth.

Adjust IF Transformer screws for max volume last.

With a signal generator the IF transformers are adjusted first.

Norm

:Anybody know a quick way to do an alignment on a radio?

Adjust the oscillator trimmer (Norm forgot this) (goes across the oscillator tuning condenser) at the high end of the dial--at 1400 KC with a 1400 KC station or another station nearby at its appropriate mark--for radios that LACK an oscillator padder. If a padder IS present, adjust the TRIMMER more towards the end of the high end of the dial, say 1500 on a dial that ends at 1600. 1600 on a dial that ends at 1750.

Adjust the padder, if present, at about 600 KC--find a station near this and adjust so that station lines up with its appropriate mark. Check station alignment across the dial and readjust the previously mentioned parts as needed. Tune in a quiet station on the dial at its appropriate mark and align IF transformers for peak output. Recheck alignment across the dial.

Misalignment of the IF transformers can cause stations to track incorrectly and sensitivity to diminish at certain parts of the dial even if stations line up properly at the trimmer and padder checks on the dial. This can cause a nightmare. I have, however, aligned radios without a signal generator even after station alignment was thrown off. It is a long and tedious process. If you don't have a signal generator and you don't know what you're doing, don't play around with the IF transformers too much.

Thomas

If there is a padder where will it be and what does it look like?

:Adjust the oscillator trimmer (Norm forgot this) (goes across the oscillator tuning condenser) at the high end of the dial--at 1400 KC with a 1400 KC station or another station nearby at its appropriate mark--for radios that LACK an oscillator padder. If a padder IS present, adjust the TRIMMER more towards the end of the high end of the dial, say 1500 on a dial that ends at 1600. 1600 on a dial that ends at 1750.
:
:Adjust the padder, if present, at about 600 KC--find a station near this and adjust so that station lines up with its appropriate mark. Check station alignment across the dial and readjust the previously mentioned parts as needed. Tune in a quiet station on the dial at its appropriate mark and align IF transformers for peak output. Recheck alignment across the dial.
:
:Misalignment of the IF transformers can cause stations to track incorrectly and sensitivity to diminish at certain parts of the dial even if stations line up properly at the trimmer and padder checks on the dial. This can cause a nightmare. I have, however, aligned radios without a signal generator even after station alignment was thrown off. It is a long and tedious process. If you don't have a signal generator and you don't know what you're doing, don't play around with the IF transformers too much.
:
:Thomas

A trimmer goes across the oscillator coil in question. A padder goes in series with the oscillator coil in question. Usually padders are only used in the broadcast section, and usually they go between the coil and the chassis or B- or whatever the coil goes to. All radios that I can think of have trimmers, but not all have padders.

Thomas